Alex (31): 2 years ago I started a hike that changed my life. I was lucky enough to walk the Jerusalem Way from Le Puy-en-Velay in France all the way to Jerusalem. During this 14 month pilgrimage I experienced fear, anger and loneliness. But the most important thing was the love from strangers, from strangers who were willing to help me with food or a bed. My path took me through different countries. I discovered different cultures, met many people and discovered a "treasure": People are kind and loving, no matter where they come from or what religion they belong to. When you arrive in a village, hungry, thirsty and tired, you always find a warm heart and a wonderful soul to help you. That's what makes such a great hike possible. Other. I also visited many holy sites on the Jerusalem Way and it was a blessing. Every day I hiked, I was able to strengthen my faith in something greater. The inner peace came day by day, the trust and confidence in life became stronger and stronger. That's the beauty of a pilgrimage. I'm getting to know myself in a way I've never experienced before. Hiking is healing I say and I hope everyone has this experience. Please contact me with any questions, if you need information, or just want to have a conversation about the path!

Facebook: Alex Lafon / E-mail, whatsapp and photos see JERUSALEM WAY 

Claudia (66):  “I went to Jerusalem.” Whenever I say this sentence or think about it, when I dream about it, everything comes back immediately. 5200 km, once 4 months (2022) and once 3,5 months (2023), took me from my hometown of Koblenz/Rhine to the geographical destination of the Jerusalem Way. But actually it was once again the path itself, which I experienced as the goal and which gave me abundant gifts: the departure into the unknown, the freedom, the incredible kindness of the people along the way, the beauty and diversity of nature, the countless historical sites, undisturbed time with God, discovering biblical places, the basic attitude of deep gratitude, new lessons in self-acceptance, the daily ambivalence of events and situations and the task “Bring peace into every home!” the gifts that the Jerusalem Way has given me. “I don't know what it is, but you're so radiant!” the people who came to be close to me often said. It must have been fulfillment and joy that literally overflowed from me. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart to Johannes Aschauer for his tireless work and his help at the right moment. Also a gift! What remains? A lot of transfer into everyday life, changes, peace work and daily prayer on the go: Protect me God, I trust you. You show me the way to life. There is joy in you, joy in abundance.”

Facebook: Claudia Schilde / Instagram: claudia.schilde

Estelle and Charlène from France, two friends who met in 2021 on the way to Compostela. It is certainly on this path that our project to walk to Jerusalem was born. Two years later, on April 10, 2023, we leave Paris for a nine-month journey to the Holy Land. Each of us goes for personal reasons, we go for peace in the world but also for peace within ourselves. We go to discover other countries, other cultures, other traditions. We make a begging pilgrimage, which means we have no money, neither for food nor for lodging. We chose to trust in providence because we believe in life. A sacred challenge that requires adaptation, patience and humility. We also have a humanitarian approach as we have set up our own association called A Little Closer to the Stars. We are collecting money so that we can donate it to three different areas of the association after our arrival in Jerusalem. This money will also be used to fund our trip if needed. This way is the way of our life. We like to say that together we are getting closer to the stars and that our way is your way. For his reasons, we like to share our path through different social networks. Please support us through our online donation campaign: Open here

Instagram: unpeu_pluspresdesetoiles / YouTube: open link /Facebook: Estelle Charlene

Gustav (66) started the Jerusalem Way at the beginning in Finisterre / Spain. Hello, I come from Austria, Carinthia, and currently live in Zurich; I worked in banking for 40 years; Since autumn 2017, my professional career has been part of my past. In 2018 I hiked around 5 km from Klagenfurt via Vienna to Santiago de Compostela in 4.000 months. In 2019 I traveled for 10 months throughout South America, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. 2020 pilgrim hike approx. 7.500 km from Santiago de Compostela to Jerusalem, canceled after 900 km due to Corona. 2021 on foot from Salzburg over the Alps to Trieste: around 500 km, 25.000 m up, 25.000 m down... and now since March 15, 2023 the continuation of my pilgrimage to Jerusalem from Pamplona in Spain, where I went 3 years ago because of the Pandemic was stopped. I have now been traveling the Jerusalem Way for 127 days and 3.400 km and still have around 3.500 km to go. I am fascinated by meeting people from other cultures and so far I have had a great experience in all countries which I have wandered through, made; The willingness to help, the hospitality and the warmth that I received from the people in these countries is unique. How it all began: In the summer of 2013 I hiked the classic Way of St. James over the Pyrenees to Santiago. That was around 830 km, which took me 28 days of walking. Back then I almost had to give up this hike after 300 km in Burgos due to an injury. But things turned out differently: an American I met on the Camino fully motivated me again in a 5-minute conversation, so that there was no longer any sign of giving up, because this American, named John, gave me crucial tips on how to do it I can get my injury under control. It was only because of his motivation and meeting him that I made it to Santiago. This Camino in 2013 changed a lot for me. When I got home I questioned everything; We live in luxury here, have everything, and on the Way of St. James I only did five things a day: hiking, eating, drinking, washing my clothes in the evening and sleeping. It took me around ten days until I was able to immerse myself in my everyday office life again. So the idea arose back then to do the Way of St. James again, starting in Carinthia, but only at a time when I had finished my professional activity. I wanted to experience that great feeling again without having to have an appointment or return to my office afterwards. Spring 2018 was a good time to start this project. I originally wanted to start the Way of St. James from Carinthia. During a vacation a year earlier in Salzburg, I saw a board with a “pilgrim menu” in front of an inn. When I inquired about it, I was told that the Austrian Way of St. James passes here. After researching on the Internet, I changed my plan and wanted to hike the entire Austrian Way of St. James, via Switzerland, via France to Santiago. And because you should start the Way of St. James on your doorstep, I finally decided to hike from Klagenfurt to Vienna. Arriving in Finisterre after 145 days and 4.000 km, I remembered Johannes Aschauer and David Zwilling's pilgrimage from Austria to Jerusalem in 2010... and this thought stuck with me until it developed into a concrete plan.

Facebook: Gustav Stangl / Blog: www.experimentalpaths.com / YouTube: open link

Rose Marie (57). After an intense phase of my life, I urgently needed a break to clear myself up. I manage best when I have time to myself and wander through nature. In January 2023, I read a Facebook post about the Jerusalem Way and got violent heart palpitations and goosebumps. The Jordan-Jerusalem leg called me. In the middle of the melting pot of religions, where the holy places are, that's where I wanted to go. As is well known, goosebumps don't lie and yet fears and doubts swelled to monsters and gave me sleepless nights. What do you want alone as a woman in the Orient? Do you still have them all? But resist a call for once! The GPS and the Jerusalemway community have given me direction and support when I have strayed off path or lost confidence. The fact that other women had walked the path before me alone cheered me up when fears crept up. I was never in danger. The only thing I had to be careful of was dogs in the open field, and I got sick twice. I went on anyway. The unexpected help and hospitality along the way strengthened my confidence in life. "You are a different woman", say family and friends since my return. Yes, that's right. I have not only arrived at the destination of Jerusalem. But also in me. I found deep inner peace, the lost connection with creation and everywhere people who opened their hearts and their homes. The Jerusalem way is truly a way of peace.

Travel blog: open link / YouTube: open link

Sigrid (67): II am a pilgrim companion and sponsor of the “Via Romea” and live in Stade (Germany). After the Way of St. James, I made a pilgrimage in stages from Stade via Mainz to Rome together with my friend from Mainz in 2009. From there I made my own way to Jerusalem. I finally reached Albania and North Macedonia in 2019 via the “Via Francigena del Sud” and the “Via Egnatia”. The flight to Skopje in North Macedonia has now been booked and I will continue my pilgrimage on the “Jerusalem Way” for the first time in September 2023. I already find the personal support from Johannes and the contacts with other pilgrims very pleasant and helpful.

Facebook: Sigrid Strueber | E-mail: info@sigrid-strueber.de | WhatsApp: +49 170 402088

John: 10 years ago (at 63) I made a pilgrimage in one piece from St. Wolfgang in Upper Bavaria (Germany) to Jerusalem. Before, I had never gone on a pilgrimage or hike for longer than a day. My Jerusalem pilgrimage was initiated at Easter 2012 by the television report “On Foot to Jerusalem”. It was about the pilgrimage of Johannes Aschauer, David Zwilling and Otto Besser. My pilgrimage was under the motto for peace, religious and international understanding. At the same time, people were able to donate to the Bethlehem Baby Hospital (2.600 and 1.000 euros) and the hospice in Erding. Citizens also gave me 80 prayer requests. I started at Pentecost 2013 with a blessing service with around 150 people and with Catholic, Protestant and Muslim clergy in the parish church of my home parish. I was the first pilgrim to mark the path with the dove of peace badge. I was also the first Jerusalem Way pilgrim to receive the first Jerusalem Way pilgrim pass. This was signed by Cardinal Schönborn in Vienna and given to me. Since it was also about international understanding, I was the first Jerusalem Way pilgrim to ring the peace bell in the UN City of Vienna. Johannes Aschauer organized both and made them possible. I made the pilgrimage alone for around 80% of the route. So I was able to experience the path, nature, people, etc. very intensively and experience a great expansion of my heart. In Turkey and Israel in particular, I was given wonderful religious encounters, which was very good for mutual understanding. I prayed Psalm 23 “The Lord is my Shepherd” every day on the way. for the prayer requests given and the thanksgiving prayer “Thank you, O God, that you are my light and my salvation and the strength of my life.” For me, the only possible destination was Jerusalem. I had been there 17 times before and had a very close relationship with this city and the Biblical Land. Other religious goals would not have been an option for me. I have now become a hiker in nature. Since then I have made a pilgrimage along the Wolfgangweg from Regensburg to St. Wolfgang in the Salzkammergut and several other longer routes. I received the best support on my Jerusalem journey from Johannes Aschauer and partly from David Zwilling and Otto Klar. Thank you very much for that.

Facebook: Johann Grasser | E-mail: johann.grasser@web.de | WhatsApp: +49 151 50487353