Stage 11: Schönberg – Schrottenbaummühle

Starting point: Schönberg Market Square |
Distance: 20.5 km |
Walking time: approx. 6 hours |
Total ascent: 514 m |
Total descent: 666 m |
Highest point: 511 m |
Lowest point: 356 m |
Stage destination: Schrottenbaummühle

Waymarking: Changing local hiking trails; on the final
section, the Ilz Valley Trail. As the Jerusalem Way is not marked everywhere with
its own waymarking, we recommend navigating with the current
Jerusalem Way app or the GPS route.

From the Bavarian Forest to the Ilz Valley

This stage of the Jerusalem Way of the Monasteries leads from
the market square in Schönberg via Mitternach and Eberhardsreuth down into the
Ilz Valley. With the stage destination Schrottenbaummühle in the municipality of Fürsteneck,
the Jerusalem Way reaches the tourism region
Ilz Valley & Dreiburgenland.

The German feeder route, around 600 kilometres long, comes from Volkenroda
via Waldsassen and the Bavarian Forest. From Schönberg it now leads into
the unspoilt river landscape of the Ilz and then continues on to
Passau.

More information about the Jerusalem Way in Germany

Route description

From the market square in Schönberg, the Jerusalem Way first leads via
Mitternach to Eberhardsreuth. The route runs through the rolling
landscape of the Bavarian Forest and then descends into the
Ilz Valley.

In the valley we reach the Ilz and follow the river on the final
section to Schrottenbaummühle. The route alternates between
local hiking trails, forest tracks and natural paths.

As individual waymarks and route guidance may be subject to change,
the current GPS route should be used throughout the entire stage.

The Ilz – the “Black Pearl” of the Bavarian Forest

The Ilz is one of Bavaria’s last great wild river landscapes.
It rises from numerous spring-fed streams in the high elevations of the
Bavarian Forest and finally flows into the Danube in Passau.

Because of the dark colour of its water, it is also called
the “Black Pearl of the Bavarian Forest”.
Forests, granite rocks, quiet riverbanks and the largely unspoilt
river landscape shape this special section of the Jerusalem Way.

More information about the region:

Ilz Valley & Dreiburgenland

Stage destination: Schrottenbaummühle

Schrottenbaummühle is located directly on the Ilz in the municipality
of Fürsteneck. The historic property has been connected to the
river and the region for centuries and provides a fitting conclusion
to this stage.

The Schrottenbaummühle inn and guesthouse offer
refreshments and accommodation. Right on the Ilz there is also
a campsite for tents, motorhomes and caravans.

As opening hours and availability may be seasonal,
we recommend enquiring in good time.

Inn, guesthouse and camping at Schrottenbaummühle

Ilz Valley & Dreiburgenland on the Jerusalem Way

On reaching Schrottenbaummühle, the Jerusalem Way of the
Monasteries enters the tourism region Ilz Valley & Dreiburgenland.
The route thus connects the natural and hiking landscapes of the Bavarian
Forest with the Three Rivers city of Passau and the later
cross-border continuation into Upper Austria.

The next stage runs largely along the Ilz via Kalteneck,
Fischhaus and the Halser Ilz Loop to Passau. There,
the Jerusalem Way of the Monasteries joins the Jerusalem Ways of the Kings and the
Apostles.

Next stage to Passau

From Schrottenbaummühle, the next stage of the Jerusalem Way leads
through the Ilz Valley to Cathedral Square in Passau. From Passau, all three
German Jerusalem Ways run together across the border into Upper Austria and
on to the City of Peace, Linz.

NEXT STAGE: SCHROTTENBAUMMÜHLE – PASSAU

Regional and cross-border networking

The integration of Ilz Valley & Dreiburgenland and Passau into the
Jerusalem Way network is also strengthened by the cross-border p2p project
implemented in 2026,
“Peace on the way”.

The aim is to connect tourism organisations, municipalities and other partners
along the Jerusalem Way and to provide new impetus for
sustainable pilgrimage, regional value creation and cooperation
between Bavaria and Upper Austria.

More information about the project “Peace on the way”

Navigation and GPS

On this stage, the Jerusalem Way is not consistently marked with its own
Jerusalem Way waymarking. Please therefore use the current
Jerusalem Way app or the GPS route provided on the stage page
, and if possible save the map for offline use as well.

Places along the stage:
Schönberg – Mitternach – Eberhardsreuth – Ilz Valley – Schrottenbaummühle