Overath Pilgrimage Trail (Stroll #16)

The pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain is world-famous, but the Bergisches Land region also has paths where people have been walking in prayer and reflection for centuries. This walking tour follows one of them. On a 9,1-kilometer circular route, it presents the eight stations, known as "Fußfälle" (footfalls), of the Stations of the Cross between Overath and Marialinden.

The eight information panels guide hikers on a journey back in time to 1740, when a major epidemic in Overath prompted the survivors to create the Stations of the Cross and have the stations crafted from Lindlar greywacke. Hikers will learn about the living conditions of people in the Bergisches Land region during the 18th century, as well as about the turmoil of the Reformation and the current religious landscape of the region between the Ruhr and Sieg rivers, the Rhine and the Sauerland.

The information panels introduce the donors of individual wayside shrines and provide an insight into how people traveled in the Bergisches Land region up until 200 years ago. In addition to historical trade routes such as the Brüderstraße and pilgrimage paths, old stagecoach connections are also brought back to life.

The Overath Pilgrim's Way is easily accessible via the RB 25 train (Overath station). A report about the route and how to get there can be found [here/below/etc.]. here.

The Overath pilgrimage route was permanently rerouted in March 2024 due to a landslide. The new route is signposted, and the new track is available here. The old route is still shown on the information boards. 

The trail has a total of 8 information panels. We thank Hardy Raap, who maintains the trail as a volunteer trail steward.