Please note: This page was machine-translated. If anything is unclear, the German version is authoritative.

Ökumenischer Pilgerweg

Route

The route of the Ökumenischer Pilgerweg follows the historic course of the Via Regia and ties in with the history of pilgrims from centuries past. The Via Regia was first mentioned as an ancient trade route in 1252, but its origins date back to the early Middle Ages. Since its opening in 2003, the Ökumenischer Pilgerweg has formed an important link between East and West in the growing network of European pilgrimage routes. The 466-kilometer route is marked in the direction of Santiago de Compostela. It begins in Görlitz on the Polish border and ends in Vacha on the former inner-German border. The entire route takes about three weeks to complete on foot. The Ökumenischer Pilgerweg is the only Way of St. James in Germany that offers over 100 pilgrim hostels at parishes, monasteries, meeting places, and families along its entire length.

Scallop shell

The yellow shell on a blue background is the orientation symbol of the Ökumenischer Pilgerweg. It is based on the scallop shell, which was (and still is) the pilgrim badge of pilgrims to Santiago. Since the second half of the 12th century, it has been made of jet or metal as a pilgrim badge and was considered proof of having been to Santiago de Compostela. Of course, a legend arose at that time about the origin of the shell: in it, a knight on his horse observed a ship docking on the coast near Padron, which contained the bones of St. James. These glowed so miraculously that the horse was frightened and jumped into the waves, dragging the knight with it. The disciples of St. James rescued the man and, as they pulled him out of the water, his body was covered with scallop shells. In addition, the scallop shell also had the practical value that pilgrims could use it to scoop water. Furthermore, in the visual arts and literature of the Middle Ages, the shell was considered a general external sign of pilgrims.

People on the move

The pilgrimage route is open to everyone, regardless of their background or beliefs. The historical chain of pilgrims, which has continued unbroken for centuries, points to an ancient tradition that has been practiced since the early Middle Ages on the way to Santiago de Compostela. It has been embraced and revived by people throughout the ages. The pilgrimage of the present day is characterized by a searching attitude, a focus on the journey, and the individual design of the trip.

Further information can be found at www.oekumenischer-pilgerweg.de.