Being a pilgrim in medieval Europe is very important for every faithful Christian. The presence of a large number of pilgrimages on the continent has made it easier for people to fulfill such a religious duty. The main purpose of pilgrimage is forgiveness of sins, but there are many other purposes such as healing, asking for children, thanking for the wish fulfilled. The exact number of pilgrims is not known as there are no reliable records. Women who lived under control throughout the age also made pilgrimages, but mostly went to places close to their homes. If they were to go far, they were usually accompanied by their husbands. There is no evidence that nuns made pilgrimages. Going to pilgrimage in this period is a dangerous and costly business. It is also possible to go on pilgrimage to someone else's place. Although the duration of pilgrimages varies according to the distance of the destination, they are usually long because transportation is not as developed as it is today. Events affecting many regions such as the great plague epidemic between 1346-51 and the Hundred Years War between 1337-1453 caused the pilgrimage to be interrupted. Nevertheless, the clergy and especially the popes encouraged people to go on pilgrimage. While one purpose of this encouragement is the forgiveness of people's sins, another purpose is for the clergy to earn a great income from pilgrimages. This income is so great that from time to time it has brought religious and worldly leaders against each other. The three most important pilgrimage centers of the continent in the Middle Ages were Rome, Santiego de Compostela and Canterbury.