Long-distance hike Via Romea - pilgrimage trail through Europe

Leutasch / Wetterstein-Gebirge and Mieminger Kette
Difficulty ratings: easy
Route length: 21.5 km
Duration: 6:30 h

Certified, historic pilgrimage trail through the Region Seefeld - Tirols Hochplateau to Rome

Tour information

  • Requirement: easy
  • Length: 21.5 km
  • Duration: 6:30 h
  • Elevation uphill:317 hm
  • Elevation downhill:637 hm
Highest point1,198 m

Starting point

Porta Claudia Scharnitz

Finishing point

Zirl Pfarrkirche

Best time of year

  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December
Source: Region Seefeld

Description

Route: Porta Claudia – Scharnitz – Seefeld // Seefeld – Auland – Reith – Leithen – Zirl – Innsbruck

It's well-known that all roads lead to Rome, especially among pilgrims. The Via Romea, a historic pilgrimage route from Stade near Hamburg through Tyrol to Rome, has now been officially certified.

The entire 2,200-kilometer pilgrimage route dates back to Albert of Stade, Abbot of the German monastery of the same name. He meticulously documented his pilgrimage to Rome and his audience with Pope Gregory IX in 1236. This allowed the pilgrimage route, named "Via Romea" by him, to be accurately reconstructed. Today, the German and Italian associations "Via Romea Germanica" share its maintenance.

One of the most beautiful sections of the pilgrimage route spans 80 kilometers and four stages through Tyrol and the vast natural diversity of the Seefeld region - Tyrol's high plateau. Pilgrims first enter Tyrolean soil in Scharnitz, under the shadow of the historic Alpine fortress Porta Claudia. Here, they experience the impressive landscape along the Isar, walk past the Gießenbach, and pass through the Lehenwald forest. Following the ancient Romans, they continue along the expansive Karwendel Nature Park to Seefeld, the internationally known heart of the Seefeld region (Stage 1).

Upon reaching Seefeld, pilgrims can explore the charming pedestrian zone, visit the historic parish church of St. Oswald, and enjoy the picturesque Wildsee lake. The pilgrimage route then leads over Auland, Reith, and Leithen to Zirl and on to Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol (Stage 2). In Leithen, a detour to the St. Magnus Chapel is worthwhile; moreover, the villages offer a beautiful view of the Inn Valley.

Through the Wipptal and past Matrei (Stage 3), the route continues to the Brenner Pass (Stage 4), where pilgrims finally cross the Alps into South Tyrol and Italy.

Thus, pilgrims journey through Tyrol, experiencing diverse landscapes and vegetation, cultural highlights, historic sites, and Tyrolean hospitality on this historically significant route to the south.

For the stages in Germany: PilgerWeg - VIA ROMEA

Based on a guiding text by Ferdinand Treml, Via Romea Germanica.

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