Whether you want to travel alone or in a group: a pilgrimage helps you slow down. Covering long distances on foot and being in harmony with nature has an almost meditative effect. The practice of pilgrimage dates back to the Middle Ages and was then particularly influenced by religion.
Everyone finds their own way
There are many good tourist itineraries that will help you plan the whole route in mind and arrive at the accommodation, guest house or hotel at the end of the day’s journey. Even very long distances can be covered this way. For inspiration, we offer some of the many possibilities here:
Crescentia hiking trail in the Bavarian Allgäu
A total of 90 kilometers on this route takes you to the hilly region of the Allgäu, where various stations commemorate the Holy Crescentia of Kaufbeuren. He lived from 1682 to 1744. On this tour you can see the fascinating landscape of the Allgäu and enjoy important works of art and places to think about. The Crescentia tour starts in Kaufbeuren and returns to Kaufbeuren via Irsee, Ottobeuren and Mindelheim. The Ottobeuren Monastery and the Holy Cross Monastery in Mindelheim are especially important to them. If you want to complete this trip, you should plan four days.
The route of the Mosel-Camino journey
The Mosel-Camino hiking trail cannot be missing from the list of hiking trails in Germany. It is also part of the St. James, that’s why you’ll find a yellow shell on the Mosel-Camino route. Starting in Lahnstein am Rhein, you travel over 156 kilometers through the Hunsrück and the Moselle and its steep vineyards to Trier. Among others, in Trier there is only one tomb of an apostle in the northern part of the Alps, that of the apostle Matthias. Tip: You can also walk the Mosel-Camino route in sections.
Bonifatius’ route from Mainz to Fulda
The Boniface Route is also a popular hiking trail. Starting with Mainz Cathedral, you explore the Rheingau and its vineyards, admire the skyline of Frankfurt am Main or enjoy the Fuldaer Land with its half-timbered houses. The Way of Boniface is 182 kilometers long and ends directly in front of the Fulda Cathedral. The nature of this road is also interesting: here you can see the remains of the volcano in the past when you go on a pilgrimage. This pilgrimage route takes its name from the traveling missionary Boniface, who is said to have lived from 672 to 754. He was revered as an apostle to the Germans after he was killed in a robbery. Boniface’s body is said to have been taken from Hochheim am Main to Fulda on the present day road.
Ecumenical pilgrimage through Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia
Follow the historic trade route “Via Regia” on a pilgrimage route. It was not only pilgrims who visited there, but also kings, merchants and warriors. The cities of Görlitz, Leipzig, Erfurt and Vacha are on the way. This 460 km long route is not divided into stages, so every visitor can make his own route or section. If you want to travel everywhere, you should plan three to four weeks. A tourist guide for this special route, which you can order, will help. There are a total of 120 hostels on the route where you can stay for a donation or at a low price from private providers. You can always find accommodation within easy reach of 20 to 30 kilometers.
Elisabeth roads: three roads leading to Marburg
In the tradition of the Way of St. James, Elisabeth’s paths also end in the church. Make a pilgrimage from Frankfurt (130 kilometers), Eisenach (193 kilometers) or Cologne (180 kilometers) to the church of Saint Elisabeth in Marburg. The impressive Elisabethenkirche was built in 1235 based on the model of French churches. Signposted hiking trails take you to various medieval towns and unique mountain ranges. When you are in Marburg, you should plan to visit the city palace below the beautiful historic houses in the winding streets. The starting points of the itinerary are also worth seeing – Eisenach with the impressive Wartburg, Cologne with its magnificent cathedral and Frankfurt, the banking city with the charm of the old town.
