From Budapest The Jerusalem Way leads along the Danube to mohács, where he reached the border triangle of Hungary, Croatia and Serbia. Here, on 29 August 1526, one of the most important battles in Europe The Hungarian and European troops suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, King Louis II fell, and medieval Hungary disintegrated under Ottoman rule. Mohács became a symbol of national tragedy for Hungary and Central Europe. Today, a memorial commemorates the victims, and The battle will be commemorated for the 2026th time in 500 – an opportunity to reinterpret this place as a station of peace and reconciliation.

After a short section on Croatian territory, the route runs through Serbia and finally reaches the easternmost city of Croatia, NoseThere stands the Franciscan monastery with the tomb of St. John of Capistrano, a great Franciscan preacher of the 15th century who played a significant role in the Battle of Belgrade in 1456. Thus, Croatia also possesses a spiritual anchor point on the Jerusalem Way before the route continues across the Danube to Serbia.

In Novi Sad the mighty Petrovaradin Fortress, one of the largest and best-preserved bastions in Europe. A few kilometers further lies Sremski Karlovci, where the symbolic Peace Chapel stands on the site of the peace treaty of 1699. It was here that the Treaty of Karlowitz was signed between the Ottomans and the European powers – a turning point in history. At the same time, it was here that the first round table negotiated so that no side was given priority. This principle, which today is considered a symbol of dialogue and equality worldwide, originated precisely here.

Further downstream the path reaches Belgrade, the ancient Singidunum, where the Danube and Sava rivers converge. The famous Through Military (or Via Diagonalis), which led via Niš, Sofia and Plovdiv to Constantinople. To this day, the mighty Kalemegdan Fortress the cityscape – with traces of Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans and Habsburgs as well as the tomb of the Ottoman Grand Vizier Damat Ali Pasha (†1716). At the same time, the monumental Church of Saint Sava, the largest Orthodox church in the world and one of the largest churches in the world. Thus, Belgrade, on the Jerusalem Way, combines antiquity, the Middle Ages, Islam, and Orthodoxy in a very small space.

From there, the Jerusalem Way follows part of the Savebefore passing through central Serbia. The classical ancient main corridor ran through the Morava Valley to the south, but the Jerusalem Way deliberately takes a different route here: It follows the Ibar Valley, about Raska, the historic heartland and the Cradle of medieval SerbiaHe meets the famous Serbian Monastery Street with its spiritual centers, including the important UNESCO World Heritage Studenica Monastery as well as the nearby Žiča Monastery, where the Serbian kings were crowned. Further south, the Jerusalem Trail also touches the impressive Gračanica Monastery, the to UNESCO World Heritage Site “Medieval Monuments in Kosovo” counts.

A special symbol meets us in Mitrovica, where the Jerusalem Way deliberately follows the well-known Peace Bridge over the Ibar – a bridge that has long been a symbol of division and conflict and is now considered a powerful symbol of reconciliation and dialogue. A few kilometers further, he reaches Vushtrri (Vucitrn), where one of the oldest Ottoman stone bridges in the Balkans, dating back to the 15th century, stands. Shortly after, the historic Field of Blackbirds (Kosovo Polje), scene of the famous battle of 1389, in which both Prince Lazar of Serbia and Sultan Murad I, the only Ottoman sultan to die in battle, lost their lives. This field remains a symbol of Europe's wounds to this day—and the Jerusalem Way transforms this memorial site into a message of peace.

The route continues to Pristina and finally south to Skopje (Scupi), where the path leads through the valley of Vardar River (Axios) In the North Macedonian capital, the Jerusalem Way leads directly through the monumental Macedonian Gate and continue to Birthplace of Mother Teresa, the great Nobel Peace Prize winner, who began her worldwide commitment to the poorest people from here. Visible from afar on Mount Vodno is the monumental Millennium Cross At 66 meters, it is the largest Orthodox cross in the Balkans and one of the largest in the world. It commemorates 2.000 years of Christianity and impressively shapes the city's skyline. Thus, the Jerusalem Way connects the ancient lines not only with the spiritual tradition of the Middle Ages and the symbols of the modern age, but also with a globally revered figure of peace and charity.

From Skopje The Jerusalem Way accompanies the Axios southwards to Stobi, a hidden gem. This ancient city was once an important hub – a gateway to the Aegean Sea. About the axis Skopje – Stobi – Thessaloniki The main Roman connection, which connected the Danube region with the Aegean Sea. Stobi was not only a transport center, but also a Christian bishopricThe route at Vardar River (Axios) – the so-called Via Axia – is by Roman Milestones and Table Peutingeriana This clearly demonstrates that the Jerusalem Way follows the ancient road network that connected Europe and the East almost two millennia ago. Also unique is the archaeologically documented Synagogue of Stobi Dating from the 2nd to 3rd centuries, it is considered the earliest synagogue in North Macedonia. It was later replaced by a Christian basilica—a symbol of the coexistence of Jewish, Christian, and Roman heritage.

Shortly before Thessaloniki The Jerusalem Way meets the famous Via Egnatia, which connected the Balkans with Asia Minor and the Orient. From here, the two routes intersect and accompany each other in many sections.

To Thessaloniki The Jerusalem Way continues through the traditional Panagía Eikosifoinissa Monastery at the Pangaion Mountains, one of the oldest Marian monasteries in the Orthodox world, and to Philippi (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The famous Battle of Philippi which marked the transition from the Roman Republic to the Empire. Around 50 AD, Paul founded the first Christian community in EuropeThe basilicas of Philippi are considered to be the oldest church buildings in Europe. At the nearby river Zygaktis Lydia of Thyatira baptized by Paul as the first woman and first Christian in Europe – a milestone in European religious history.

From there the route reaches the port of Kavala, (antique Neapolis), where Paul first set foot on European soil. This is where the Cradle of Christianity in Europe, from where the Gospel first spread to our continent. Kavala also commemorates Alexandria Troas in present-day Türkiye, from where Paul set out on his second missionary journey to Europe.

East of Kavala, the Jerusalem Way leads through the ancient cities Maroneia and Ismaros, which is already Homer are mentioned and whose legends are closely linked to Troy The route thus builds a bridge to the next stage in present-day Türkiye, where the pilgrims later actually visited the ruins of Troy and Alexandria Troas .

Near the lagoon of Port Lagos lies the idyllic Monastery of Agios Nikolaos, a spiritual place of connection. Finally, the Jerusalem Way reaches the coastal town Alexandroupoli with its lighthouse – last stop in Greece before the route across the the Dardanelle to Anatolia (present-day Türkiye) .

It is also noteworthy that the Jerusalem Way, on its course across the Balkans, often follows the same route as the so-called refugee route – only in the opposite direction. The valleys and crossings that pilgrims today use to reach Jerusalem are the same routes that countless refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan have used in recent years to travel from Turkey via Greece, North Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary until after Austria and further to Central Europe Thus, the Jerusalem Way becomes a path that not only connects cultures and religions, but also reflects current experiences of flight, suffering, and hope.

Thus, the Jerusalem Way today continues the great lines of antiquity: from the Danube via the Sava, the Ibar and Vardar valleys to the Aegean SeaIt connects the historical main axis of the Roman Empire with symbolic periods of the Middle Ages and the present day – a living connection that united Europe and the Orient 2.000 years ago and which today is known as peace way Builds bridges between cultures, religions and peoples.