Germany

The Stages

Main Route

Jerusalem Way of Kings

The Jerusalem Way of Kings is one of the three major German feeder routes to the Jerusalem Way. The approximately 1,020-kilometer route leads from Cologne via Bonn and Linz am Rhein to Bingen, continuing via the Imperial Cathedrals in Mainz, Worms, and Speyer, as well as via Bad Wimpfen, Esslingen am Neckar, the Hohenstaufen, Schwäbisch Gmünd, and Nördlingen to Donauwörth and Passau.

The route follows the traces of ancient and medieval connections, early Christian dioceses, the Imperial Cathedrals of the Holy Roman Empire, and numerous places with historical ties to Jerusalem. Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and the tradition of Jerusalem pilgrims also shape the history of this route.

In Donauwörth, where a relic of the True Cross from Jerusalem is venerated in the Holy Cross Church and a
JERUSALEM WAY Peace Dove is located at the Peace Bridge, the Jerusalem Way of Kings merges with the Jerusalem Way of Apostles. Both routes then continue together via Regensburg to Passau. There, the Jerusalem Way of Monasteries joins. From Passau, all three German Jerusalem Ways continue together through Upper Austria to Linz and onward on the main route toward Jerusalem. The complete GPS route from Cologne to Passau is available for the individual stages.

Until the new JERUSALEM WAY app is completed, GPS data & POIs can be downloaded via the Mapy app: Open download

Jerusalem Way of Apostles

The Jerusalem Way of Apostles is one of the three major German feeder routes to the Jerusalem Way. It begins at the cathedral in Fulda, where the tomb of Saint Boniface, the “Apostle of the Germans,” is located, and leads via Würzburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and Nördlingen to Donauwörth.

The route follows the traces of the insular wandering missionaries who spread Christianity in Central Europe after the Migration Period. In Würzburg, the route commemorates the missionaries and martyrs Kilian, Colonat, and Totnan. Rothenburg ob der Tauber is also called the “Jerusalem of Franconia” due to its history and medieval cityscape.

On September 30, 2023, the Jerusalem Way of Apostles was ceremonially opened in Fulda. A JERUSALEM WAY Peace Dove was installed near St. Michael’s Church close to the cathedral square, oriented toward Jerusalem.

In Donauwörth, the Jerusalem Way of Apostles merges with the Jerusalem Way of Kings. Both routes then continue together via Regensburg to Passau, where the Jerusalem Way of Monasteries joins. From Passau, all three German Jerusalem Ways continue together through Upper Austria to Linz and onward on the main route toward Jerusalem. Total distance Jerusalem Way of Apostles Fulda – Passau: approximately 607 kilometers.

Note on the route: The section of the Jerusalem Way of Apostles shown here leads from Fulda to Nördlingen. The route continues via the stages already shown above: Nördlingen – Donauwörth, Donauwörth – Regensburg, and Regensburg – Passau. Detailed information can be accessed via the respective stage tiles.

Until the new JERUSALEM WAY app is completed, GPS data & POIs can be downloaded via the Mapy app: Open download

Jerusalem Way of Monasteries

The Jerusalem Way of Monasteries is one of the three major German feeder routes to the Jerusalem Way. The approximately 600-kilometer route begins at Volkenroda Monastery in Thuringia and leads via the Green Belt, Waldsassen, the Upper Palatinate, the Bavarian Forest, and the Ilz Valley to Passau.

The route stands for overcoming denominational and political boundaries and connects significant monasteries, churches, and places of reconciliation. Waldsassen with the Kappl, Waldsassen Monastery, and the JERUSALEM WAY Peace Dove lies almost at the halfway point; from there it is just under 300 kilometers to Passau. The town of Waldsassen and Waldsassen Monastery are partners of the Jerusalem Way.

In the final stages, the route passes through the tourism region Ilz Valley & Three Castles Land. In Passau, the Jerusalem Way of Monasteries merges with the Jerusalem Ways of Kings and Apostles. From there, all three routes continue together through Upper Austria to Linz and onward on the main route toward Jerusalem. Further information on the ecumenical pilgrimage route VIA PORTA from Volkenroda to Waldsassen: VIA PORTA – Tourism Waldsassen

Until the new JERUSALEM WAY app is completed, GPS data & POIs can be downloaded via the Mapy app: Open download