An hospitalière is a person who looks after pilgrims in a refuge. Currently, the most high-profile pilgrimage is the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. A refuge is not a hotel rather it is modest accommodation where pilgrims can find a bed, a modest but nourishing evening meal and breakfast and the companionship of other pilgrims. There is no fixed price; pilgrims make a donation - donativo - according to their means.
The refuge is in the countryside about 8 minutes by car from the nearest town.
Pilgrimage has become very popular over the last 20 years, witness the number of programmes on the television.
I love France and all things french and being an hospitalière gives me a wonderful opportunity to meet many interesting people making their pilgrimage for many reasons, not just spiritual but cultural and for the personal challenge. Inevitably, amongst so many disparate people of several nationalities, I have some funny and interesting stories to tell.

My talk is 45 - 60 mins long based on a Powerpoint presentation and covers my experience as an hospitalière at a refuge near Bourges in central France.
Before I could become an hospitalière, I had to complete a 3 day training session in France.