The Volunteer Hospitaleros Receive the Soul of the Camino in the Hermann Künig Award
León, October 15, 2025 – In an event full of emotion and deep meaning, the capital of León dressed up to honor the purest essence of the Camino de Santiago. The Association of Friends of the Künig Trail delivered its first and prestigious Hermann Künig Hospitality Award, an award that seeks to immortalize the human value that gives life to the Jacobean Route. The award went to the organization that brings together the Volunteer Hospitallers, the authentic soul and heart of the Camino.
A Tribute to Altruism that Heals Wounds
This award, named after Hermann Künig – the German monk who authored the first guide for pilgrims in the 15th century, who called each walker “brother” – is not only a recognition of a work, but a caress the spirit of solidarity.
The Hospitaleros Voluntarios organization, born 35 years ago, has made altruism its flag, offering welcome, comfort and selfless attention to pilgrims who arrive exhausted, with blisters on their feet and their souls on the surface. Their work transcends simple accommodation; It is a helping hand in moments of greatest vulnerability, a word of encouragement that restores strength and a hot cup of tea that tastes like home.
More than 10,000 Hearts at the Service of the Pilgrim
Since its creation in 1990, more than 10,000 people from all continents They have worn the hospital vest, demonstrating that faith in humanity continues to be the most traveled route. They are the ones who, without receiving anything in return other than the gratitude of the pilgrim, ensure the essential values of the Camino: security, brotherhood and unconditional welcome.
The emotional delivery ceremony, held in the majestic Royal Collegiate Church of San Isidoro de León, resonated with the voices of all those who have felt the transformative impact of this hospitality. The statuette received – a terracotta plaque that reflects a medieval pilgrim –, although simple, symbolizes the incalculable richness of his work.
By establishing this award, the Friends of the Künig Way Association not only seeks to honor the work of the monk Künig, but promote the defense and prestige of human values that make the Camino de Santiago a unique experience in the world, reminding us all that the true miracle of the pilgrimage lies in the selfless kindness that awaits us in each shelter.
