This collection includes essays on the visual experience and material culture at medieval pilgrimage shrines of northern Europe and the British Isles, particularly the art and architecture created to intensify spiritual experience for visitors. These studies focus on regional pilgrimage centers which flourished from the 12th-16th centuries, addressing various aspects of visual imagery and architectural space which inspired devotees to value cults of enshrined saints and to venerate them in memory from afar. Subjects include pilgrim dress, jeweled and painted reliquaries, labyrinths, elaborate processions, printed texts of the saint's life, shrines, sculpture and other architectural decoration, and pilgrim souvenirs. Profusely illustrated with 350 photographs, this work will interest scholars and students of art history, history, religious studies, and popular culture.

Contributors include: Ilana Abend-David, Virginia Blanton, Sarah Blick, Katja Boertjes, James Bugslag, Lisa Victoria Ciresi, Daniel K. Connolly, M. Cecilia Gaposchkin, Laura D. Gelfand, Anja Grebe, Anne F. Harris, Kelly M. Holbert, Vida J. Hull, Jos Koldeweij, Marike de Kroon, Claire Labrecque, Stephen Lamia, Nora Laos, Jennifer M. Lee, Albert Lemeunier, Mitchell B. Merback, Scott B. Montgomery, Jeanne Nuechterlein, Rita Tekippe, William J. Travis, Kristen Van Ausdall, Benoît Van den Bossche.
All volumes of the print edition will become available in individual e-books: 9789047430070 (volume 1) - 9789047430087 (volume 2).