Discover the Jerusalem Way

A pilgrimage of hope, full of spirituality, history, and adventure

The Jerusalem Way is a unique pilgrimage route! It is the world’s longest interreligious, intercultural peace and pilgrimage trail.

The Jerusalem Way crosses the continents of Europe & Asia over a distance of approximately 8,500 kilometers, passing through fifteen countries. The route begins in Finisterre, Spain, and leads eastward to Jerusalem, the intersection of the three monotheistic world religions. The Jerusalem Way connects the three most important pilgrimage destinations of Christianity (Jerusalem, Rome, and Santiago de Compostela).

The longing for peace is a special motivation for walking the Jerusalem Way. Every pilgrim is a symbol of hope for peace (Peregrinantes in Spem). The international peace project “JERUSALEM WAY” aims to connect people, cultures, and religions, thereby strengthening peaceful coexistence (see www.jerusalemway.org). “On foot, you are no stranger.”

Whether walking one stage, several stages, or the entire route: Every step is an invitation to self-reflection and to encounter foreign cultures and the people along the way. On this path of peace, pilgrims are led on a journey to the roots of their faith, their inner peace, and ultimately to themselves.

The Jerusalem Way was walked and brought to life in 2010 by three Austrian pilgrims (Johannes Aschauer, Otto Klär, David Zwilling). The entire route connects various cultural, spiritual traditions and religions. The Jerusalem pilgrim reaches significant historical sites, several apostolic tombs, and numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites. Along the way, in partner cities such as Melk, Linz, Fulda, and others, the symbol of the Jerusalem Way—the peace dove—has been erected as a visible sign.

Walking for Peace

Everything begins with the first step…

The decision to step away from daily life for a certain time and walk a longer distance on foot slows you down and stands as a metaphor for life. Questions reduce to the essentials during a consciously chosen time: What fits in a backpack? Which path leads me to my destination? Where do I sleep? How do I satisfy my hunger? Who walks with me? And how am I traveling with myself?

It’s always about the first step and then the next step toward the goal. Pilgrimage enables a profound encounter with yourself.

The long walk creates space for conversations with yourself and with life. Some find dialogue with God, some with nature. Some discover that they find order with their own story and that of their ancestors. The experience of being part of a greater whole gives primal trust. The thought of walking on a path that has already been traveled by thousands before gives connection.

Pilgrimage requires openness. For a person traveling far walks as a stranger through countries and depends on the kindness of a host. Open-mindedness is the key to encounters and the potential to break down prejudices and fears. Positive experiences strengthen trust in the people along the way. Strangers can become friends. Across all cultures, you experience what connects all people: the needs for belonging, security, and love. The supposed boundaries between peoples and religions can be bridged by individuals in mutual respect.

Pilgrims are also ambassadors from their cultural sphere. A pilgrimage is the most ecological way to travel. It is active environmental protection and gentle tourism.

Upon reaching their destination, pilgrims report feelings of happiness from inner arrival, about the physical achievement, about the encounters along the way, and about the realization that kindness, respect, and trust are door-openers.

“Love, the strongest force in the universe, permeates and illuminates everything and builds bridges between people.”

The Jerusalem Way is an invitation to embark on a personal, inner journey. The routes marked by the association “JERUSALEM WAY International Peace Team,” GPS, information materials, a network of pilgrims, and proven cooperation partners provide orientation and security. The thought of walking on a path that has already been traveled by thousands before gives connection.

The Jerusalem Way connects religions and cultures in a unique peace project. Through exchange and cooperation with private, religious, and political organizations, mutual recognition and tolerance grow. The search for what connects stands at the center of dialogue and allows the worldwide network to steadily grow toward overarching solutions for peaceful coexistence.

The year 2023 put faith in peace to the test, shaking people and the earth both literally and figuratively. The path to a peaceful world seems far.

As Paulo Coelho said: Jerusalem stands as the Gordian knot for peace in the world. Even though the city is currently physically difficult to reach, we at the JERUSALEM WAY association are convinced that everyone can walk their own path of peace. We would like to invite you to be inspired by the pioneers Johannes, Otto, and David to take the first step on the unknown path toward the goal.

For paths are created by walking them. The path of peace, too.

The Jerusalem Way wants to inspire people to look within and see where steps of peace are possible in their personal environment and where inner wars need to be settled. Here too:

Even the first step can be a destination.