Pilgrim walks in Lower Saxony

On the Osnabrück-Wuppertal Way of St. James, we make a pilgrimage right across Westphalia. After crossing the Teutoburg Forest, we walk through the flat Münsterland region to the eastern Ruhr area. Here we cross the Ruhr and reach our destination in Wuppertal-Beyenburg via the hills of the Bergisches Land.

Auf den Spuren Bischof Sigwards - Pilgern im alten Bistum Minden auf der Südroute des Sigwardweges: Diese Pilgerweg geht zurück auf die Amtszeit des Bischofs Sigward 1120 bis 1140 am Dom zu Minden. In dieser Zeit erbaute er seine Eigen- und Grabeskirche in Idensen, einem kleinen Vorwerk im Deister Vorland südlich des Steinhuder Meeres.

In 1236, Abbot Albert of Stade travelled to Pope Gregory IX. in order to effect a monastery reform at his Benedictine monastery of the Virgin Mary in Stade. In his "Annales Stadenses", he documents the most important ecclesiastical and political events of his time. A dialogue of two monks on the best way for a pilgrimage to Rome is embedded in there. In this dialogue (Itinerary), Albert von Stade describes his own trip to Rome, with all rest areas and precise distance information between the places. He names 28 towns only in Germany. A duplicate of this document from the 14th century can be found in the Herzog August Library at "Wolfenbüttel". The anthropologist, Prof. Giovanni Caselli from Italy, finds this itinerary about 770 years later. Giovanni Caselli and a German theologian, Dr. Uwe Schott, invited the German mayors of these 28 towns mentioned to a meeting in Ochsenfurt in March 2008. This is the beginning of the restoration of this ancient pilgrim route from Stade to Rome. Meanwhile, the entire historical route has been explored. International understanding, interreligious dialogue and fostering of peace are the objectives of the "VIA ROMEA" - the route of encounters.

Official route description - Stage 16The approx. 2200 km long pilgrimage route "VIA ROMEA GERMANICA" from Stade to Rome on its route between Hornburg and Osterwieck. European cultural route of the Council of Europe

Official route description - stage 01The approx. 2200 kilometre long pilgrimage route "VIA ROMEA GERMANICA" from Stade to Rome on its route between Stade and Harsefeld.European Cultural Route of the Council of Europe

Von Loccum nach Volkenroda - Der Pilgerweg Loccum-Volkenroda verbindet die Zisterzienserklöster Loccum in Niedersachsen und Volkenroda in Thüringen. Auf rund 300 Kilometern führt er durch eine abwechslungsreiche Naturlandschaft entlang von Weser, Leine und Unstrut, über Wesergebirge, Vogler und Solling sowie durchs Eichsfeld.  

Official route description - stage 03The approx. 2200 kilometre long pilgrimage route "VIA ROMEA GERMANICA" from Stade to Rome on its route between Zeven and Gyhum.European Cultural Route of the Council of Europe