Stages: 14 days Today's Birgitta Pilgrimage Route runs from Sassnitz on the island of Rügen via the Hanseatic City of Stralsund, Güstrow, the State capital Schwerin on to Zarrenthin and on to Lower Saxony. Past masterpieces of brick Gothic, through the Sternberg Lake District and to former monasteries - this is how the pilgrimage route of St. Birgitta is believed to have been in 1341.
St. Birgitta Pilgrimage Route (310 km)
Route
310 km
- Marking: white Birgit cross on the scallop shell or yellow arrow.
- Tour tips: Hanseatic City of Stralsund, Güstrow Cathedral St. Maria, St. Johannes Evangelista and St. Cäcilia, Tempzin Pilgrimage Monastery, Schwerin Cathedral.
Rail connection: Sassnitz
Route
310 km
Stages: 14 days Today's Birgitta Pilgrimage Route runs from Sassnitz on the island of Rügen via the Hanseatic City of Stralsund, Güstrow, the State capital Schwerin on to Zarrenthin and on to Lower Saxony. Past masterpieces of brick Gothic, through the Sternberg Lake District and to former monasteries - this is how the pilgrimage route of St. Birgitta is believed to have been in 1341.
Saint Birgitta, founder of the Order of the Redeemer named after her, set out on a pilgrimage from Sweden to Santiago de Compostella with her husband Ulf in 1341. On the way, she passed through what is now Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The pilgrims of that time oriented themselves to places of pilgrimage and power, such as the Antoniter Hospital and Tempzin Monastery or the cathedrals in Güstrow and Schwerin.
The modern itinerary begins in Sassnitz on the island of Rügen. Continuing into the center of the island and mainly through wooded areas, pilgrims pass the towns of Lietzow and Bergen auf Rügen. Beyond the Strelasund, the waterway between the Island of Rügen and the mainland, the UNESCO World Heritage city of Stralsund awaits with its brick churches of St. Marien, St. Nikolai and the former Franciscan monastery of St. Johannis. Through picturesque avenues and past time-honored churches such as the Tribsee town church of St. Thomas, pilgrims find their way to the Barlach town of Güstrow. Here, the cathedral, the Church of the Holy Spirit and St. Mary's tower into the sky.
Through the Sternberg Lake District Nature Park, pilgrims reach the once-famous pilgrimage site of Tempzin in the district of Parchim. Visible from afar in the Mecklenburg hills, the monastery church rises with its imposing west gable and graceful bell tower. A relic of St. Anthony attracted crowds of believers to the local monastery early on. Today, the building, which is over 500 years old, once again serves guests as a simple place to stay overnight and is the starting point for many pilgrimage offers in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Also worthwhile was a "drop of the blood of Christ" for the Schwerin Cathedral from 1222. With the proceeds, the present house of worship could be rebuilt from the 13th century onwards. Situated directly on the Schaalsee, the former Cistercian monastery of Zarrentin with its artistically designed Gothic ribbed vault in the preserved east wing.
In 1391 Birgitta was canonized by Pope Boniface IX. In 1396 the pope appointed her the patron saint of Sweden. In 1998, Pope John Paul II named her the patron saint of Europe.
15 Ergebnisse
“PAHLHUUS“ – Visitor centre of the UNESCO biosphere reserve “Schaalsee“
- Closed today
- Wittenburger Chaussee, 19246 Zarrentin am Schaalsee
Welcome to the PAHLHUUS, the visitor centre of the UNESCO biosphere reserve „Schaalsee“. We are happy to inform you about touristic offers and show you the most beautiful places in the biosphere reserve. Extraordinary insights into nature and landscape of the region await you in an interactive exhibition.
Schwerin Palace
- Closed today
- Lennéstraße, 19053 Schwerin
Schwerin Palace is located on an island in Lake Schwerin and is among the most important historicism edifices in Europe.
Dreilützow Castle
- Am Schlosspark, 19243 Dreilützow
You have a group with whom you want to travel? Then come to the countryside in West Mecklenburg. We offer accommodation and catering in an almost 300 year old manor house. You have plenty of space for your own activities in our houses and our castle park. The castle ghost comes free of charge!
State Museum Schwerin
- Temporarily closed
- Alter Garten, 19055 Schwerin
In a prominent location on Schwerin Lake, visitors will find a top collection of Dutch paintings, as well as paintings from the 16th to the 21st century and works of handicrafts and graphic art.
St. Mary's Church Bergen
- Billrothstraße, 18528 Bergen auf Rügen
St. Mary's Church is the oldest preserved building on the Island of Rügen and was consecrated as a Romanesque palatine and monastery church in 1193 together with the monastery located next to it. Special features are the baptismal font from the 14th century, the altar from around 1730, the baroque pulpit from 1776 andthe church bell from 1445.
SEA MUSEUM Stralsund
- Temporarily closed
- Katharinenberg, 18439 Stralsund
The MEERESMUSEUM in Stralsund's old town is currently closed. The museum is expected to open in 2024 after extensive modernization work.
Bergen monastery yard
- Billrothstraße, 18528 Bergen auf Rügen
The historic monastery courtyard with museum and show workshop is located in Bergen on the Island of Rügen.
St. Mary's Church Poseritz
- Lindenstraße, 18574 Poseritz
St. Mary's Church in Poseritz is the parish church of the Protestant parish of Poseritz
Zarrentin Monastery
- Kirchplatz, 19246 Zarrentin
The former Cistercian nunnery "Himmelspforte" is located on the southern shore of the Schaalsee. The monastery complex, which is well worth seeing, can be visited. There is an exhibition on the history, as well as guided tours and audio guides.
St. John's Church Sassnitz (ev.)
- Johanniskirchstraße, 18546 Sassnitz
Sassnitz received its church in the period of the bloom of the development of the place to the most important seaside resort of Rügen in the 2nd half of the 19th century.
Nature stage Ralswiek
- Am Bodden, 18528 Ralswiek
Welcome aboard to the "Störtebeker Festival" at the natural stage Ralswiek, the family experience on the Island of Rügen!
Heilgeist Monastery
- Heilgeistkloster, 18439 Stralsund
The Heilgeist Hospital, first mentioned in 1256, is one of the best preserved former hospitals in northern Germany. The Heilgeist Church from the beginning of the 15th century is one of the oldest buildings in the complex. The two-story longhouses and half-timbered houses once served to house and care for the sick and those in need of nursing.
Schwerin Cathedral St. Marien and St. Johannis
- Open today
- Am Dom, 19055 Schwerin
The proverbial highlight of the churches in Mecklenburg: Schwerin Cathedral. This imposing masterpiece of brick Gothic is the oldest building in the city of Schwerin, has the highest church tower in Mecklenburg at 117.5 meters and is the only true cathedral in the state. The cathedral is open daily. Those who climb the 220 steps of the tower are greeted by a breathtaking view over Schwerin's lake landscape.
Rühn Monastery
- Klosterhof, 18246 Rühn
Rühn Monastery is a well-preserved monastery complex dating from 1232. The owner is a non-profit, voluntary association. The monastery includes a monastery store and a tavern as well as an oil, mustard and vinegar manufactory.
Tempzin Monastery
- An der Klosterkirche, 19412 Tempzin
The impressive historical monastery complex, with its abbey church and gardens, was an important place of pilgrimage and place for pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela to stop at for a while. On the monastery grounds, there is a hostel for the pilgrims of today. As a centre of pilgrimage in Mecklenburg, Tempzin regularly offers ecumenical pilgrimages, Ora-et-Labora weekends and the chance to take some time off and enjoying a "retreat" in the monastery.
“PAHLHUUS“ – Visitor centre of the UNESCO biosphere reserve “Schaalsee“
- Closed today
- Wittenburger Chaussee, 19246 Zarrentin am Schaalsee
Welcome to the PAHLHUUS, the visitor centre of the UNESCO biosphere reserve „Schaalsee“. We are happy to inform you about touristic offers and show you the most beautiful places in the biosphere reserve. Extraordinary insights into nature and landscape of the region await you in an interactive exhibition.
Schwerin Palace
- Closed today
- Lennéstraße, 19053 Schwerin
Schwerin Palace is located on an island in Lake Schwerin and is among the most important historicism edifices in Europe.
Dreilützow Castle
- Am Schlosspark, 19243 Dreilützow
You have a group with whom you want to travel? Then come to the countryside in West Mecklenburg. We offer accommodation and catering in an almost 300 year old manor house. You have plenty of space for your own activities in our houses and our castle park. The castle ghost comes free of charge!
State Museum Schwerin
- Temporarily closed
- Alter Garten, 19055 Schwerin
In a prominent location on Schwerin Lake, visitors will find a top collection of Dutch paintings, as well as paintings from the 16th to the 21st century and works of handicrafts and graphic art.
St. Mary's Church Bergen
- Billrothstraße, 18528 Bergen auf Rügen
St. Mary's Church is the oldest preserved building on the Island of Rügen and was consecrated as a Romanesque palatine and monastery church in 1193 together with the monastery located next to it. Special features are the baptismal font from the 14th century, the altar from around 1730, the baroque pulpit from 1776 andthe church bell from 1445.
SEA MUSEUM Stralsund
- Temporarily closed
- Katharinenberg, 18439 Stralsund
The MEERESMUSEUM in Stralsund's old town is currently closed. The museum is expected to open in 2024 after extensive modernization work.
Bergen monastery yard
- Billrothstraße, 18528 Bergen auf Rügen
The historic monastery courtyard with museum and show workshop is located in Bergen on the Island of Rügen.
St. Mary's Church Poseritz
- Lindenstraße, 18574 Poseritz
St. Mary's Church in Poseritz is the parish church of the Protestant parish of Poseritz
Zarrentin Monastery
- Kirchplatz, 19246 Zarrentin
The former Cistercian nunnery "Himmelspforte" is located on the southern shore of the Schaalsee. The monastery complex, which is well worth seeing, can be visited. There is an exhibition on the history, as well as guided tours and audio guides.
St. John's Church Sassnitz (ev.)
- Johanniskirchstraße, 18546 Sassnitz
Sassnitz received its church in the period of the bloom of the development of the place to the most important seaside resort of Rügen in the 2nd half of the 19th century.
Nature stage Ralswiek
- Am Bodden, 18528 Ralswiek
Welcome aboard to the "Störtebeker Festival" at the natural stage Ralswiek, the family experience on the Island of Rügen!
Heilgeist Monastery
- Heilgeistkloster, 18439 Stralsund
The Heilgeist Hospital, first mentioned in 1256, is one of the best preserved former hospitals in northern Germany. The Heilgeist Church from the beginning of the 15th century is one of the oldest buildings in the complex. The two-story longhouses and half-timbered houses once served to house and care for the sick and those in need of nursing.
Schwerin Cathedral St. Marien and St. Johannis
- Open today
- Am Dom, 19055 Schwerin
The proverbial highlight of the churches in Mecklenburg: Schwerin Cathedral. This imposing masterpiece of brick Gothic is the oldest building in the city of Schwerin, has the highest church tower in Mecklenburg at 117.5 meters and is the only true cathedral in the state. The cathedral is open daily. Those who climb the 220 steps of the tower are greeted by a breathtaking view over Schwerin's lake landscape.
Rühn Monastery
- Klosterhof, 18246 Rühn
Rühn Monastery is a well-preserved monastery complex dating from 1232. The owner is a non-profit, voluntary association. The monastery includes a monastery store and a tavern as well as an oil, mustard and vinegar manufactory.
Tempzin Monastery
- An der Klosterkirche, 19412 Tempzin
The impressive historical monastery complex, with its abbey church and gardens, was an important place of pilgrimage and place for pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela to stop at for a while. On the monastery grounds, there is a hostel for the pilgrims of today. As a centre of pilgrimage in Mecklenburg, Tempzin regularly offers ecumenical pilgrimages, Ora-et-Labora weekends and the chance to take some time off and enjoying a "retreat" in the monastery.
Your destination:
Pilgerweg der Heiligen Birgitta (310 km)
18546 Sassnitz
Pilgerweg der Heiligen Birgitta (310 km)
18546 Sassnitz
