The Caminos in Germany and surrounding countries

[Canuck]

As requested by Janet and suggested by Alipilgrim, here is a quick run down of the different info I found so far on the caminos around Germany and surrounding countries of Central Europe as well as the means to make it to Vezelay on caminos rather than the French GR network.

I am still in the planning stages of my walk from Prague next fall and this constitutes only the exploratory phase of the project. More to come as the world unfolds.

To start, here is a good map with plenty of info on most, if not all, of the caminos in Germany: :arrow:
http://www.deutsche-jakobswege.de/wege-uebersicht.html
So far I am considering the numbers 20, 21 and 22 which would take me from Prague to Strasburg.

Once in France, from Strasburg, I am looking at this particular one, avoiding the mountains and taking advantage of the vineyards and low forests: :arrow:
http://www.saint-jacques-alsace.org/chemin.htm
Then, this new initiative to Vezelay: :arrow:
http://www.af-ccc.fr/chemin

I am sure that other folks have looked at the different ways in those areas and their input is most welcome. In any case, here is at random some other sites I have looked into: :arrow:
http://romantisches-franken.de/showpage ... SiteID=450
http://www.deutsche-jakobswege.de/shop/index.htm
http://www.occa.de/Jakobsweg/index.htm
http://www.jakobsweg-rothenburg-speyer.de/der-weg.htm
http://www.occa.de/Jakobsweg/allg/Beste ... /Band4.htm

and a special mention for Janet on caminos in Poland:
http://www.camino.net.pl/index_eng.html

On the move,
Jean-Marc

 

[lovingkindness]

Hi Canuk, thanks for posting these sites. I am almost in Oslo and very soon will be planning the next stages of my camino. You have saved me much time. -Lovingkindness

 

[Peter Robins]

maps.peterrobins.co.uk/routes.html

let me know if you know of any others

 

[jl]

Thanks Jean-Marc.
Lovingkindess is about to tackle this - I, on the other hand are exploring options for a few years time - when I retire. All I definately know at this stage is that I want to walk St Olav's Way, and that I want to walk the pilgrimage path in Poland to Prague, and that I want to take the Paris route. I would dearly love to walk the Arles route but don't think that would be possible as a winter pilgrim (or not an "aged" woman travelling alone through potential snow storms etc.). So my task over the next few years is to work out how I can get from one path to another.

Now I will start exploring your links - thanks again, Janet

 

[Anniesantiago]

Oh Jean-Marc, thank you for this information!

Have you looked into biking or walking the Pilgrimstadt from Amsterdam to Brussels, then continuing down?

 

[Canuck]

walking the Pilgrimstadt from Amsterdam to Brussels

Hi Annie,

Already done with my wife two or three years ago.

Beautiful, quiet and verrrrry easy along the maze of canals and farmlands.

All the Dutch speak English to boot, not to mention the special relationship that exists between Dutch and Canadians. Fond memories...

Cheers,
Jean-Marc

 

[Anniesantiago]

Did you bike it or walk it?
Do you have a blog about it?
How long did it take?
Did you go all the way to Santiago from Amsterdam?
Seems like I remember you telling us about this, but it was a while back and I forget things. There is so much information on this forum!

 

[LTfit]

Hi All,

Do you mean the Pelgrimspad from Amsterdam to Visé (LAW 7 part 1 & 2)? If so, here is a blog (sorry in Dutch) of someone who walked it with corresponding km, pictures, etc.

http://pelgrimspad.punt.nl/index.php?r=1&id=344242&tbl_archief=0#344242

It can at least give you a feel for the route. Terrain in The Netherlands is indeed FLAT and weather very precarious with emphasis on damp and rainy.

Here is a map from Wikipedia:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/LAW7.png

Haven't done it myself, I am more a warm, sunny weather LDW (long distance walker) :wink: .
FYI: LAW means LDW in Dutch.

Who knows, maybe helpful for someone.
Cheers,
LT
p.s. and here is a blog of a Dutch woman I met on July 2nd during dinner at the auberge L'Esprit du Chemin in St. Jean. She walked from her home in Holland to Finisterre and gives etapas from Vise (where LAW 7 ends) to Finisterre:
http://carinegovers.waarbenjij.nu/?page=message&id=3403456

 

[Canuck]

Did you bike it or walk it?
Do you have a blog about it?
How long did it take?
Did you go all the way to Santiago from Amsterdam?
Seems like I remember you telling us about this, but it was a while back and I forget things. There is so much information on this forum!

Annie,

a) walk from Amsterdam to Brussels;
b) no blogs on any of the (too) many outings I have done;
c) 30 days of easy walking and lots of visits along the way;
d) didn't go all the way. Plan is to reach Paris from Brussels one these days;
e) I may have mentionned it earlier. Neither can I recall.

Cheers,
Jean-Marc

 

[Anniesantiago]

LT, those photos are beautiful! What a lovely way to walk! I don't speak Dutch, does it say which month they walked?

Canuck, can you get by with English?
Is it possible to camp along the way, or where did you sleep?

Can you suggest any guides in English?

Thanks! This definitely looks worth exploring!

 

[Canuck]

Canuck, can you get by with English?

No problems whatsoever. Everybody speaks English in Holland and Flamish country.

Is it possible to camp along the way, or where did you sleep?

We splept mostly in small hotels and B&B(the cleanest and most welcoming you can find). The odd times (3 or 4) in camping ground huts available to trekkers.

Can you suggest any guides in English?

No guide in English. I used two in Dutch and it was very easy to follow although I don't master the language (who does?). They had very detailed maps for each stage, info on accommodation, details of transportation (buses, trains and boat-buses) and other interesting facts. For the Dutch part I used LAW 1-3 and for the Belgium one, the guide book GR12-Nord. Here are the links:
http://www.wandelnet.nl/pagina/lange-af ... andelpaden
http://www.grsentiers.org/cgi-bin/topog/gr12n.php

Enjoy,
Jean-Marc

 

[jl]

Thank you for all this information Jean-Marc. I have really enjoyed perusing it all and have found this link the most helful of all.

http://www.deutsche-jakobswege.de/wege-uebersicht.html

It is interesting that when I have been googling info for Germany that website has not come up - I obviously wan't using the right key words! I am trying desperately hard not to get too excited - that would only be wishing my life away!

Cheers, Janet

 

[Debinq]

hi all

there's part of an ancient 'Jacobs' pilgrims' trail in the north of the Netherlands
from Uithuizen in the province of Groningen to the city of Hasselt in (Overijssel)
I think it also takes in what the Frisians call the 'Japikspad' - I stumbled on it when 'warming up' in 2006 for Spain - Holland is flat after all - good place to break-in new boots too!

http://www.jacobspad.nl/jacobspad.html Dutch but there's a clickable Union Jack icon there too

Am not sure if it has any historic links with the so-called 'Pieterspad' which more or less runs parallel / in proximity with the Dutch-German border from Groningen thru the eastern Netherlands to Maastricht in the south - approx 350km all up - I'm considering it as a warm-up for my Mozarabe later next year

buen camino

Peter

 

[Debinq]

hola todos
apologies for wrong info re Japikspad in previous post - see

http://www.jacobspad.nl/kaart.html

but it feeds into the Jacobspad, joining it in Hasselt

the Japikspad was (is) for Frisian pilgrims

http://www.jabikspaad.nl/
:arrow:
buen camino

Peter

 

[jl]

Just wanted to tell you, and to thank you for posting it, Jean-Marc, how helpful the link below is for the Camino in Germany.

http://www.deutsche-jakobswege.de/wege-uebersicht.html

I have had a lovely time researching the information found there, and am slowly getting things sorted. I think that, at this stage, I will follow the Elbe cycle track up to Dresden, from Prague, and then on to where the Camino crosses the Elbe at Strehle. From there I will head west to Liepzig and ultimately to Maastricht before heading on down to Paris. There is still a lot of research to do, and plenty of time to plan and dream, and this has been most helpful. Cheers, Janet

 

[Canuck]

Janet,

Don't mention it! It was a pleasure to share that information.

I like your plan to go from Prague to Desden. I will look into it and maybe take this opportunity to visit some friends who live in that city.

Happy planning and dreaming,

Jean-Marc

 

[Anniesantiago]

Just found this again.
Thank goodness for search engines.
Sorry to pester everyone... this MCS makes my brain foggy and I forget things sometimes.

 

[jl]

Great excitment today with a multitude of parcels arriving from the Book Depository - they had got caught in all the snow I think. One of the envelopes contained a very useful overview map of the pilgrimage paths in Germany:-

GeoMap Pilgerkarte Jakobswege 9783936184730

It is laminated and one side is Deutschland 1:1 Mio.

the other side is Westl. Europa 1.3 Mio

It lists and names the pilgrimages that are marked - a very helpful overview and planner tool!

Janet

 

[Canuck]

Janet,

From where did you order all that good stuff?
I am in the process of refining my next hike and I need everthing I can get a hold of.
Thanks,
Jean-Marc

 

[jl]

Hi Jean-Marc,

My favourite source for "book" things on the internet is the Book Depository. Go on the site (below) at your peril - it has a habit of swallowing money! They send postage free from England to many countries in the world - including Australia and New Zealand. Not sure about your neck of the woods.

http://www.bookdepository.co.uk

Many of the guides that came today are in German (which I don't speak), but I don't care - it gives me things like distance, facilities available in the towns and villages etc - I can figure much of it out from the symbols. Type in the word jakobswege and it should come up with a whole lot of things (including some maps). You will be able to work out if they are guide books or accounts of pilgrimages (even Tim Moore and Shirley McClain's books are there - in German). I don't know which path you are planning, but they do have a lot of the guides that are "Bands". Most of the other guides are the Conrad Stein "Outdoor" guides.

The other source is the bike guides - bikeline, publisher - esterbauer. I have bought one of the Elbe going from Prague to Magdeburg -called "Elbe-Radweg" Teil 1: von Prag nach Magdeburg" the scale is 1:75.000. These maps are really quite good, and when it is time for me to do my marathon pilgrimage I intend to follow the Elbe up to Riesa where, by my calculations, the bike path should intersect with the Kumenischer Pilgerweg going from Leipzig to Eisenach. I have not, so far found that guide book on the BD, but have got the the Via Jutlandica (from Flensburg) Via Baltica (from Lubeck along the coast to the Eastern edge of Poland)
the Elisabethpfad (from Eisenach to Marburg), Band 5 of Jakobswege (from Marburg - Cologne, via Siegen), the Via Mosana (from Aachen - Bruly), and I have the Topo Guide from Namur to Vezelay.

I have also ordered a DVD from Amazon de. This has yet to arrive, but it shows many of the paths in Germany that you and I are interested in. It is in German, but that will help me practice won't it!?!

The trouble is - this is all making me get itchy feet - and I can't take of for this journey until 2015! Oh well - lot's to sort out before then, not least of which is how to get permission to stay in the Schengen states for a year! I will just have to content myself with taking off to do the Camino Mozarabe and the VDLP later this year! By the way - when do you take off?

Hope all this helps, regards, Janet

 

[Anniesantiago]

Yesterday I found a link for a guide for the Pelgrimspad ( in English) which is to be published soon.
The author will send me a copy in a few weeks after lodging references have been checked.

 

[Canuck]

Thanks a million Janet. Great source of info that I will explore further.

My walk is plan for the fall of 2011 and I expect to be in Europe for 70 days. No need for a visa.

I am presently in Spain (Alicante Costa Blanca) for the winter. I arrived on the 30th of December and will be returning to Canada on the 29th of March (just under the 90 day visa requirement).

I wish you luck on the VdlP. I walked the Via and Mozarabe in September-October 2009 and it was hot in a way I cannot describe. 32 degrees at 06h00 and 45 by noon. It made me suffer so much that I want to do it again soon so I can say ''job done'', hopefully after a better experience.

Cheers,
Jean-Marc

 

[lovingkindness]

Der Via Jutlandica (Jacobsweg, North Germany)

in November, 2010 as part of a longer journey I walked the Via Jutlandica-east, from Schleswig via Kiel to Lübeck. Here are some of the resources I used along the way. Thanks to all who helped me.
- Lovingkindness

Maps
Wander- und Freizeitkarten 1:50 000, Blätter 5, 8 und 9 des Landesvermessungsamtes Schleswig-Holstein
-I created a throw-away strip map out of these three maps, photocopied size A4, double-sided.

Google maps: (both options shown)
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http:....003052&spn=0.965467,1.922607&z=8&source=embe

Flyer Pdf (excellent)
http://www.via-tempora-verlag.de/resources/Flyer+ViaJutlandicaOst+100720+mitWerbung+RGB+LowRes.pdf

Pilgrim accommodation Pdf:
Non commercial (pilger unterkünfte, zu spende/donation)
http://www.via-tempora-verlag.de/resources/UKL+NK+20.pdf

Commercial (B&Bs, guesthouses, hotels)
http://www.via-tempora-verlag.de/resources/UKL+Kommerziell+No+13.pdf

Useful websites
http://www.via-tempora-verlag.de/
http://kirche-hamburg.de/kirchehamburg/wir.5.4/wir.5.4.5/index.html
http://www.pilgern-in-norddeutschland.de/39994.html

 

[lovingkindness]

Der Via Baltica: Lübeck via Hamburg to Münster (Jacobsweg, North Germany)
Guten Tag, Pilger! Here are some of the resources I used along the Via Baltica, Winter 2010-2011. Thanks to all who helped me, Vielen Danke.
-Lovingkindness

Maps

Google maps
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http:...=53.330873,11.293945&spn=3.214714,7.69043&z=6

Lübeck to Hamburg pdf
http://kirche-hamburg.de/fix/files/doc/Pilgerkarten_Travem%FCnde-Wedel.2.pdf

Hamburg to Münster (Guide book with maps)
Bernhard Weber: Pilgern auf der Via Baltica. © 2010 Bernhard Weber. Berwicker Str. 24,59514 Welver 1.Auflage 2010. ISBN 978-3-00-031737-8

-an excellent guide: each stage has a coloured map, written commentary & suggestions for pilgrim accommodation. Purchase from author
http://www.via-baltica-verlag.de/bestell.htm

Pilgrim Accommodation
Non commercial (pilger unterkünfte, zu spende/donation)
http://www.jakobswege-norddeutschland.de/baltica2b.pdf

Bernhard Weber: Pilgern auf der Via Baltica. © 2010 Bernhard Weber. Berwicker Str. 24,59514 Welver 1.Auflage 2010. ISBN 978-3-00-031737-8

-Pilgrim accommodation listed for each stage

Useful websites

http://www.vechta.de/Kultur-Bildung/Kultur/Jakobsweg.aspx?lang=en-US Bremen to Osnabrueck
http://www.via-tempora-verlag.de/
http://kirche-hamburg.de/kirchehamburg/wir.5.4/wir.5.4.5/index.html
http://www.pilgern-in-norddeutschland.de/39994.html
http://www.deutsche-jakobswege.de/wege-uebersicht.html

 

[jirit]

On that seems to get over looked is the following

Ökumenischer Pilgerweg 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaLNIuPtInE

Follows the old Via Regia

Neville
More on this route can be found here:
http://littlegreentracs.typepad.com/my_ ... art-2.html

 

[lovingkindness]

Münster via Köln to Coblenz (Westfalia & The Rhein)
(Jan-Feb, 2011) ….from Munster to Köln I followed a couple of historical Jacobswegs then continued down the Rhein River hiking Der Rheinsteig. When it snowed I walked the cycle path by the river. Vielen Danke to all who helped me along this Way.
Schüss!
-Lovingkindness

Here are the resources which I used:

Guide books: maps, accommodation suggestions & historical info

A selection of tourist maps & brochures, Google maps

Münster to Wuppertal-Beyenburg

Gerbaulet, H & Spichal, U.Jakobswege: Wege der Jakobspilger in Westfalen Band 6. J.P.Bachem Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7616-2210-0
http://bachem.de/verlag/buecher/jakobswege/2210-Jakobswege-Bd.6
- An excellent resource. Detailed maps. ( large book).

Wuppertal-Beyenburg to Köln (Cologne)

Flinspach, K./Heusch-Altenstein, A. Jakobswege: Wege der Jakobspilger in Westfalen Band 1J.P.Bachem Verlag. ISBN
http://bachem.de/verlag/buecher/jakobswege/1465-Jakobswege-Wege-der-Jakobspilger-im-Rheinland-Bd.1
- An excellent resource. Detailed maps. ( large book).

Köln to Coblenz
From Köln to Coblenz I followed Der Rheinsteig trail. When it snowed I walked the cycling path beside the river.
http://www.rheinsteig.de/en/downloads/
http://www.rheinsteig.de/en/routes-and-maps/oberes-mittelrheintal/

Accommodation
http://www.santiagofreunde.de/

Useful websites
http://www.santiagofreunde.de/
http://www.deutsche-jakobswege.de/westfalen.html

 

[lovingkindness]

Coblenz to Trier (Der Mosel Camino)

(February, 2011)…from Coblenz to Trier I followed Der Mosel Camino, a well signed trail which coincides often with Der Mosel Höhenweg. It is a grand strenuous hike up and down the mountains, through vineyards and fachwerke villages beside the river. Here are some resources…..
-Vielen Danke fur Alles,
Lovingkindness

Maps
http://maps.peterrobins.co.uk/google/overview/mosel.html

Guide (8 stages)
http://www.wanderkompass.de/pilgerweg/deutschland/mosel-camino.html

Accommodation (pilger unterkunfte)
http://www.wanderkompass.de/pilgerweg/deutschland/mosel-camino.html
http://xschaefer.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/pilgerunterkunfte-an-deutschen-jakobswegen-mosel-camino/

Useful Websites
http://www.mosel-camino.de/index.html

 

[lovingkindness]

Trier via Perl to Vezelay
(Feb-March, 2011)…and from Trier there is a signed Jacobsweg all the way to Perl....
Cheers, Lovingkindness

Guide book

Steffen, Wolfgang. Von Apostelgrab zu Apostelgrab, Ein Führer für Pilgerinnen auf dem Weg nach Santiago von St. Matthias in Trier bis Sainte Madeleine in VézelayGalli: Verlag. ISBN 978-3-936990-49-2

-Copies are available at the DOM office, Trier where the St. Jakobusbruderschaft provide information for pilgrims.
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/board/the-vezelay-route/topic9592.html

Flyers
http://www.lux-trier.info/downloads/jakobsweg_echternach-trier.pdf

Accommodation (pilgeruntekunfte)

- ask at the DOM office, Trier where the St. Jakobusbruderschaft have a Help Desk for pilgrims.

Useful Websites
http://www.sjb-trier.de/index.html
http://445095.forumromanum.com/memb...s_hp&page=12264&USER=user_445095&sublink=7515

 

[John R McLean]

This thread is excellent. I've just begun to lay out my retirement journey, with plans to basically walk from Iona in Scotland, down through England and across Europe to Morocco. I plan to take as many Camino routes as possible. I working on the routes to get from Amsterdam to Prague and then cut down on Jacobsweg to the Camino Norte, Santiago, Sevilla, Gibraltar and across to Morocco. My plan is in its infancy and I'm sure will be changed and adjusted many times before my first step on the ground. I have added the rough mileage vs days matrix.

 

[Kitsambler]

....walk from Iona in Scotland ... and across Europe to Morocco.

Your fellow-countryman Roger has just walked from Shrewsbury to Santiago, and his detailed blog might be very useful for some sections. https://rogerbreakell.wordpress.com/

 

[John R McLean]

Your fellow-countryman Roger has just walked from Shrewsbury to Santiago, and his detailed blog might be very useful for some sections. https://rogerbreakell.wordpress.com/

That's fantastic! Thank you. It looks like I'll definitely be able to use this information.