Overath pilgrimage route - Seven footfalls on the way to Marialinden
The pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain has long been world-famous, but there are also paths in the Bergisches Land where people have been praying and pausing for centuries. This STREIFZUG follows one of them. On a 9.1-kilometre circular tour, it presents the eight stations, so-called "footfalls", of the Way of the Cross between Overath and Marialinden.
The eight information boards take hikers on a journey back in time to 1740, when a major epidemic in Overath prompted the survivors to create the Way of the Cross and have the stations made from Lindlar greywacke. Hikers learn interesting facts about the living conditions of people in the Bergisches Land region in the 18th century as well as about the turmoil of the Reformation and the current denominational character of the region between the Ruhr and Sieg, Rhine and Sauerland.
The information boards introduce the founders of individual footfalls and give an insight into how people traveled in the Bergisches Land up to 200 years ago. In addition to historical trade routes such as the Brüderstraße and pilgrim paths, old stagecoach connections are also brought back to life.
The Overath Pilgrims' Trail can be easily reached with the RB 25 (Overath station). You can find a report on the route and how to get there here.
The Overath Pilgrims' Trail was permanently relocated in March 2024 due to a landslide. The new route is signposted and the new track is also available here. The old route is still shown on the information boards.
The trail has a total of 8 information boards. We would like to thank Hardy Raap, who looks after the trail as a volunteer trail patron.
The eight information boards take hikers on a journey back in time to 1740, when a major epidemic in Overath prompted the survivors to create the Way of the Cross and have the stations made from Lindlar greywacke. Hikers learn interesting facts about the living conditions of people in the Bergisches Land region in the 18th century as well as about the turmoil of the Reformation and the current denominational character of the region between the Ruhr and Sieg, Rhine and Sauerland.
The information boards introduce the founders of individual footfalls and give an insight into how people traveled in the Bergisches Land up to 200 years ago. In addition to historical trade routes such as the Brüderstraße and pilgrim paths, old stagecoach connections are also brought back to life.
The Overath Pilgrims' Trail can be easily reached with the RB 25 (Overath station). You can find a report on the route and how to get there here.
The Overath Pilgrims' Trail was permanently relocated in March 2024 due to a landslide. The new route is signposted and the new track is also available here. The old route is still shown on the information boards.
The trail has a total of 8 information boards. We would like to thank Hardy Raap, who looks after the trail as a volunteer trail patron.
