Via Baltica

Via Baltica (360 km)

The Via Baltica, the Baltic Way of the pilgrims of St. James, leads from the Baltic countries via Usedom, Rostock, Wismar, Lübeck, Hamburg further to Bremen and Osnabrück. From here, it extends as the Westphalian Way further to Cologne. There it connects with the old pilgrimage routes through Belgium and France to Spain with the destination Santiago de Compostela.

Through Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Via Baltica leads over 16 stages from the Polish Świnoujście to the Hanseatic city of Lübeck. Witnesses of former devotions to God can be found all along the route. In almost every village, a solid church can be found, the silhouette of the cities is defined by imposing church towers, and the once exalted monasteries testify to the faith of their builders.

The carefully restored Hanseatic cities keep the history of the region alive. Pilgrims first pass through the university and Hanseatic city of Greifswald, which impresses its guests already at the city border with the Eldena monastery ruins. In the Hanseatic city of Rostock, thick walls and deep moats bear witness to the military strength of the once powerful Hanseatic metropolis. The layout of the city center of the third Hanseatic city along the route has remained almost unchanged for many hundreds of years. Crowned by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the Hanseatic city of Wismar clearly shows that the Middle Ages are alive. As in the past, three sky-high brick cathedrals tower over the city.

Outside the cities, one mostly walks far from major roads through forests and meadows, resting by small lakes. But the rural idyll also offers much more: In the Lassaner Winkel, for example, pilgrims can discover over 300 different medicinal and aromatic plants in the Papendorf Scent and Touch Garden, take a break with a sound massage, or experience old craftsmanship in the café of a weaving workshop.