Already a center for Marian pilgrimages since the 8th century, Le Puy's prestige soared after 951, when its bishop, Godescalc, organized the first official pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. Le Puy constituted henceforth one of the four major French starting points for Compostela. According to the 12th century Poitevin monk Aimery Picaud, putative author of the first Pilgrims' Guidebook to the shring of St. James, it served as a gathering place for "Burgundians and Teutons".