Information and services

St. James' Paths/Chemins de St. Jacques

Hornbach - Saarbrücken
Sarreguemines - Metz

Wanderkarte für Pilger/Randonnée pédestre pour les pèlerins

Wanderkarte für Pilger

Fittingly for the Año Santo Jacobeo (Holy Compostelan Year), which was celebrated for the 119th time throughout Europe in 2010, the first cross-border hiking map for pilgrims on the cultural axis Hornbach - Saarbrücken/Sarreguemines - Metz was published. The new map series was developed by a Franco-German working group under the leadership of the Saarbrücken Regional Association on the basis of maps published by Galli Verlag.

The walking map for pilgrims is intended as a guide and appetizer and offers a lot of information for all people who want to experience the Way of St. James also in this region.

A special charm is conveyed on these two routes by the encounter of German and French culture. Many people hike the Greater Region in the footsteps of the pilgrims of St. James in order to get to know the special features of these multifaceted cultural and natural landscapes. "Border experiences", pausing for breath and encounters along the way also play a major role in pilgrimage hiking.

Zwei jugendliche Pilger inspizieren eine Wanderkarte

This new handy walking map at a scale of 1:50,000 not only shows the exact course of the two routes, but also provides the most important background information on this unique European cultural route, which has been protected by UNESCO as an intellectual heritage site. In addition, the cultural and landscape project "Way of the Stars/Chemin des Étoiles" is presented, in the context of which waymarkers point out special features along the Camino de Santiago routes.

Further information is given on pilgrimage stamp stations, places of interest and tourist contacts. A French summary is addressed to the French friends of pilgrimage.

The new walking map for pilgrims of St. James is available in bookstores.

ISBN 978-3-936990-51-5
Price: 5,90 €

Other sources of supply

Galli Verlag+Vertrieb GmbH, Am Steinberg 1, 86558 Hohenwart, www.galli-verlag.deTel. +49 8443 / 89 16
Saarpfalz-Touristik, www.saarpfalz-kreis.deTel. +49 6841 / 1 04-71 74
Tourismus Zentrale Saarland GmbH, www.urlaub.saarlandTel. +49 681 / 92 720-0
Saarbrücken Regional Association, Information Office, www.regionalverband-saarbruecken.de/touristinfoTel. +49 681 / 506-1313
Tourist Information Saarbrücken region, www.die-region-saarbruecken.deTel. +49 681 / 93 80 9-16

Pilgrimage hiking on the "Way of the Stars" from the cultural site Wintringer Chapel

Circular hiking trail (daily stage with approx. 20 to 28 km, 5-7 h, degree of difficulty medium with ascents)

Karte – Sternenweg

Map section

The map section shows the route of the southern route of the Way of St. James, which leads from Hornbach via Gräfinthal Monastery, Gut Hartungshof/Bliesransbach, cultural site Wintringer Chapel further via Auersmacher, Bad Rilchingen-Hanweiler to Sarreguemines. Via Sarreguemines you can hike to the monastery Gräfinthal and from here back to Wintringer farm. You can vary this route as you wish and you will almost always be on the Way of St. James with many wonderful vistas, sights and opportunities for a pilgrimage rest.

Stations on the way

Kleinblittersdorf, Wintringer farm, Cultural site Wintringer Chapel Country inn and farm store (pilgrim stamp station, accommodation, catering), Gabi Hoffmann, GHoffmann@buebinger-werke.deTel. +49 6805 / 902-411
Auersmacher, pilgrims' hostel Altes Bauernhaus (pilgrims' stamp station)
Manfred Paschwitz, Heidi Lang
Tel. +49 6805 / 34 10
Tel. +49 6805 / 75 89
Bad Rilchingen-Hanweiler, Barmherzige Brüder, reception Haus Vinzent (pilgrim's stamp station)Tel. +49 6805 / 96 00
Sarreguemines, Sarreguemines city tour, Office de Tourisme (pilgrim stamp station), www.sarreguemines-tourisme.comTel. +33 3 87 98 80 81
Sarreguemines, Bliesmühle Earthenware MuseumTel. +33 3 87 98 93 50
Bliesmengen-Bolchen, Gräfinthal monastery, Benedictine priory (pilgrims' stamp station)Tel. +49 6804 / 68 36
Bliesransbach, Gut Hartungshof (pilgrim stamp station), Ute KesslerTel. +49 6805 / 2 26 24

Pilgrimages on the Way of St. James through the state capital Saarbrücken

From the starting point at the collegiate church in St. Arnual, the route follows the towpath along the Saar to the castle church. We recommend a visit to the museum, as most of the medieval finds from the Saarland can be found in the castle church. It is also worth visiting the casemates, which take you far below Saarbrücken Castle. The Way of St. James through Saarbrücken continues past the Ludwigskirche church to the church of St. James, which houses two wooden sculptures of St. James from the Middle Ages. The signposting for the Way of St. James shows you the way to the Teutonic Knights' Chapel, whose origins date back to the 13th century. The Teutonic Knights ran a hospice, probably also for pilgrims. The trail leads you through the town to the Spicherer Höhe and across the border into France. You have the opportunity to stop off at the Woll inn before returning to the starting point at the collegiate church through the Stiftswald forest.

Wanderkarte für Pilger

Map section

If you want to extend the stage, Halberg is also recommended as a starting point. Via the Mithrashöhle or Heidenkapelle you will reach the Stiftskirche via the Saarwiesen.

Tourist offers for pilgrims on the Way of St. James in the Saarpfalz district and the Saarbrücken region

To plan pilgrimages, especially if there are several stages with overnight stays, it is worthwhile to be well prepared. Below you will find the most important sources of information.

Saarland

Saarpfalz-Touristik, www.saarpfalz-touristik.deTel. +49 6841 / 104 7174
Biosphere Association, www.biosphaere-bliesgau.euTel. +49 6842 / 9 60 09-0
Saarland Tourist Board, www.urlaub.saarlandTel. +49 681 / 92 720-0
Tourist Information Saarbrücken region, www.die-region-saarbruecken.deTel. +49 681 / 9 38 09-16
Saarbrücken Regional Association, www.regionalverband-saarbruecken.deTel. +49 681 / 506-61 40

Lorraine

Fédération Française de la Randonnée, Pédestre, Germain Schuler, www.ffrandonnee.frTel. +33 3 87 88 19 92
Comité Départemental du Tourisme de la Moselle, www.mosl-tourisme.frTel. +33 3 87 37 59 82
Sarreguemines, Office de Tourisme, www.sarreguemines-tourisme.comTel. +33 3 87 98 80 81
Forbach, Office de Tourisme, www.paysdeforbach.comTel. +33 3 87 85 02 43
Metz, Office de Tourisme, www.tourisme-metz.comTel. +33 3 87 55 53 75

Palatinate

Palatinate Tourism, www.pfalz.deTel. +49 6321 / 3 91 60

St. James Societies

Logo St.Jakobusgesellschaft
St. James Society, Rhineland-Palatinate-Saarland e.V.
www.jakobusgesellschaft.eu
Logo Les Amis de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle
Les Amis de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle
www.st-jacques-lorraine.fr

Museums with medieval exhibits

Historama Hornbach Monastery, www.klosterstadt-hornbach.deTel. +49 6338 / 13 65
Kirkel castle complex with local history museum, www.kirkel.deTel. +49 6841 / 8 09 80
Museum in the castle church, www.saarbruecken.deTel. +49 681 / 99 64-0
Historical Museum Saar, www.historisches-museum.orgTel. +49 681 / 506-45 01
Musées de la Cour d'Or, musees.metzmetropole.frTel. +33 3 87 68 25 00
Cathedral de Metz, www.cathedrale-metz.frTel. +33 3 87 75 54 61
Wanderkarte für Pilger

Pilgrim hostels

Saarbrücken-St. Arnual, pilgrims' hostel "Beim Köbes" (for 3 - 6 pers.), Wolfgang SteffenTel. +49 681 / 9 85 00 82
Auersmacher, pilgrim hostel "Altes Bauernhaus", sleeping on the threshing floor (up to 10 pers.), dormitory (up to 7 pers.), Manfred Paschwitz, Heidi LangTel. +49 6805 / 34 10 Tel. +49 6805 / 75 89
Bad Rilchingen-Hanweiler, pilgrims' hostel Barmherzige Brüder, 10 guest rooms (up to 20 people), house chapel for meditation or church services for pilgrim groups, www.bb-rilchingen.deTel. +49 6805 / 9 60-0
Saint-Avold, Foyer Notre Dame, foyernotredame.st.a.free.frTel. +33 3 87 92 12 92

Youth hostels

Homburg, youth hostel, www.diejugendherbergen.deTel. +49 6841 / 36 79
Gersheim, Spohns Haus, ecological school hostel, www.spohnshaus.deTel. +49 6843 / 5 89 99-0
Saarbrücken, youth hostel, www.diejugendherbergen.deTel. +49 681 / 3 30 40
Saint-Avold, Center international de séjour le Felsberg, camping.saint-avold.frTel. +33 3 87 92 75 05

Hotels/Pensions

Hornbach, Hotel Kloster Hornbach, www.kloster-hornbach.deTel. +49 6338 / 9 10 10-0
Blieskastel, Gasthof-Pension KlosterschenkeTel. +49 6842 / 46 69
Blieskastel, Hotel Zur PostTel. +49 6842 / 9 21 60
Herbitzheim, Hotel Bliesbrück, www.bliesbruck.deTel. +49 68 43 / 80 00-0
Sitterswald, Hotel Restaurant "Am Markt"Tel. +49 6805 / 44 12
Saarbrücken-St. Arnual, Hotel zur SchönbachTel. +49 681 / 87 23 20
Saarbrücken, Hotel am Triller, www.hotel-am-triller-saarbruecken.deTel. +49 681 / 5 80 00-0
Saarbrücken, Domicil Leidinger, www.leidinger-saarbruecken.deTel. +49 681 / 9 32 70

Pilgrim catering and regional products on the way for groups from 15 pers.

Altheim, Landcafé Lambert, Beate LambertTel. +49 6844 / 12 23
Blieskastel, Franciscan monastery, Brother Darius, www.wallfahrtskloster-blieskastel.deTel. +49 6842 / 23 23
Auersmacher, pilgrims' hostel "Altes Bauernhaus", Manfred Paschwitz, Heidi LangTel. +49 6805 / 34 10 Tel. +49 6805 / 75 9
Bliesransbach, Gut Hartungshof, Ute KesslerTel. +49 6805 / 2 26 24
Kleinblittersdorf, Wintringer farm, farm store, www.lebenshilfe-obere-saar.deTel. +49 6805 / 10 45

Lecture "Under the sign of the shell"

A search for traces on the Way of St. James from Hornbach to Metz
Peter Michael Lupp, Tel. +49 681 / 506-6060 , pm.lupp@web.de
Guided hikes on the Way of St. James

Logo Begegnungen Unterwegs

Encounters on the way

Cultural history, landscape and pause for groups from 15 pers. incl. pilgrimage meal.

Saarpfalz-Touristik, tel. +49 6841 / 10 41 90, www.saarpfalz-kreis.de
Tourist Information Saarbrücken Region, tel. +49 681 / 93 80 9-16, www.die-region-saarbruecken.de