Cruz de Ferro replica in Texas

[Joseph Pearson]

After walking the Camino Frances in 2021, a friend of mine heard from me about the Cruz de Ferro from the Camino. And he organized a fabrication of a replica of the Cruz de Ferro that has been erected at a youth retreat camp Eagles Wings Retreat Center (ewrc.org) in Central Texas. There is a picture of the real Cruz de Ferro and an explanation on the info stand next to the cross.

 

[David]

Marvellous! But - I am not going to walk to Texas with a stone in my backpack

 

[rappahannock_rev]

Interesting! ... Just FYI y'all, the Astorga "Gaudi Palace" Camino Museum claims to have the original Cruz de Ferro. Might be true, I dunno....

 

[Joseph Pearson]

Thanks David. Perhaps you may want to visit after taking a look at the video about Eagle's Wings at the website ewrc.org : -)

 

[GraemeHall]

I really don't know how I feel about this, so I probably shouldn't leave a comment. I am troubled enough to want to share that I am troubled.
I'll leave it at that.

 

[Joseph Pearson]

I really don't know how I feel about this, so I probably shouldn't leave a comment. I am troubled enough to want to share that I am troubled.
I'll leave it at that.

Hi Graem, thanks for the note. No ill will intended on my part or to take away from the Camino. Like the Cruz de Ferro itself, whose purpose is to point the way, the Iron Cross in Texas explains in detail the history and purpose of the Camino as a way to hopefully encourage folks to walk the El Camino themselves someday.

 

[William Garza]

The wildflowers right now would make it a worthwhile walk.

 

[RJM]

I really don't know how I feel about this, so I probably shouldn't leave a comment. I am troubled enough to want to share that I am troubled.
I'll leave it at that.

Why be troubled? It's simply a replica of an iron cross, and those type of iron crosses can be found in a lot of places. The one in question near Foncebadon is one of many. Not unique. I could actually have one made and put it in my backyard, complete with a pile of stones at the base. Would that be troubling? If so, why?
Truth be told (and not trying to be offensive), the cruz de ferro on the Frances has become more of a tourist draw than anything. The very first time I was approaching it on the Frances I saw a tour bus stop on the roadway next to it and about twenty people get out, muck about the little hill of stones, taking selfies, making noise etc. Mind you I didn't bring a stone or anything with me to deposit there and had no intention to stop there, but that spectacle sort of solidified why I just walk past it every time I have walked the Frances. I've since been told that local government has to remove the stones and such from the base on a regular basis before it gets too high, too tall. Picks it all up with a bulldozer with a bucket no doubt and hauls it away as fill.
Mind you, I understand what the cruz de ferro represents, but it just appears to me it has been lost in the shuffle of the popularity.

 

[lt56ny]

Interesting! ... Just FYI y'all, the Astorga "Gaudi Palace" Camino Museum claims to have the original Cruz de Ferro. Might be true, I dunno....

View attachment 120993

For us camino lovers I would much prefer to think that it is true.

 

[Derek Booth]

Why be troubled? It's simply a replica of an iron cross, and those type of iron crosses can be found in a lot of places. The one in question near Foncebadon is one of many. Not unique. I could actually have one made and put it in my backyard, complete with a pile of stones at the base. Would that be troubling? If so, why?
Truth be told (and not trying to be offensive), the cruz de ferro on the Frances has become more of a tourist draw than anything. The very first time I was approaching it on the Frances I saw a tour bus stop on the roadway next to it and about twenty people get out, muck about the little hill of stones, taking selfies, making noise etc. Mind you I didn't bring a stone or anything with me to deposit there and had no intention to stop there, but that spectacle sort of solidified why I just walk past it every time I have walked the Frances. I've since been told that local government has to remove the stones and such from the base on a regular basis before it gets too high, too tall. Picks it all up with a bulldozer with a bucket no doubt and hauls it away as fill.
Mind you, I understand what the cruz de ferro represents, but it just appears to me it has been lost in the shuffle of the popularity.

The bulldozer didn't visit between March 2019 and March 2020 because I found the stone I had left! 11months earlier. (and I have it at home on the burner in the lounge.)

 

[GraemeHall]

Why be troubled? It's simply a replica of an iron cross, and those type of iron crosses can be found in a lot of places. The one in question near Foncebadon is one of many. Not unique. I could actually have one made and put it in my backyard, complete with a pile of stones at the base. Would that be troubling? If so, why?
Truth be told (and not trying to be offensive), the cruz de ferro on the Frances has become more of a tourist draw than anything. The very first time I was approaching it on the Frances I saw a tour bus stop on the roadway next to it and about twenty people get out, muck about the little hill of stones, taking selfies, making noise etc. Mind you I didn't bring a stone or anything with me to deposit there and had no intention to stop there, but that spectacle sort of solidified why I just walk past it every time I have walked the Frances. I've since been told that local government has to remove the stones and such from the base on a regular basis before it gets too high, too tall. Picks it all up with a bulldozer with a bucket no doubt and hauls it away as fill.
Mind you, I understand what the cruz de ferro represents, but it just appears to me it has been lost in the shuffle of the popularity.

I've only been there once, and I suppose I was lucky. It was quite early in the morning, after fresh snow. I stayed for about 30 minutes, and not one other person was there in all that time. 11 April, 2018. It was a beautiful half hour.

 

[williamlittig]

Interesting! ... Just FYI y'all, the Astorga "Gaudi Palace" Camino Museum claims to have the original Cruz de Ferro. Might be true, I dunno....

View attachment 120993

Pistoia in Italy claims to have the body of Saint James which was transferred in 1125. Any truth?

 

[David]

Pistoia in Italy claims to have the body of Saint James which was transferred in 1125. Any truth?

They have a small piece of his skull, brought from Santiago de Compostela in 1145

 

[Mark Barnes]

After walking the Camino Frances in 2021, a friend of mine heard from me about the Cruz de Ferro from the Camino. And he organized a fabrication of a replica of the Cruz de Ferro that has been erected at a youth retreat camp Eagles Wings Retreat Center (ewrc.org) in Central Texas. There is a picture of the real Cruz de Ferro and an explanation on the info stand next to the cross.View attachment 120989

I know Curt and Katie H. and walked the Camino Frances starting in Pamplona in 2017. Started September 22, 2017 and got to Santiago de Compostela November 03, 2017. (Temple, Texas)

 

[Mark Barnes]

Marvellous! But - I am not going to walk to Texas with a stone in my backpack

After walking the Camino Frances in 2021, a friend of mine heard from me about the Cruz de Ferro from the Camino. And he organized a fabrication of a replica of the Cruz de Ferro that has been erected at a youth retreat camp Eagles Wings Retreat Center (ewrc.org) in Central Texas. There is a picture of the real Cruz de Ferro and an explanation on the info stand next to the cross.View attachment 120989

Love it!

 

[Mark Barnes]

After walking the Camino Frances in 2021, a friend of mine heard from me about the Cruz de Ferro from the Camino. And he organized a fabrication of a replica of the Cruz de Ferro that has been erected at a youth retreat camp Eagles Wings Retreat Center (ewrc.org) in Central Texas. There is a picture of the real Cruz de Ferro and an explanation on the info stand next to the cross.View attachment 120989

Love it! One day I might get to place a stone at the base as I did in Spain 2017.