Germany, the land of soaring Gothic cathedrals and ancient monasteries, preserves one of Europe's richest Catholic heritages despite the divisions of the Reformation. From the Shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne to the alpine sanctuaries of Bavaria, German pilgrimage sites have drawn faithful travelers for over a thousand years, while producing saints, scholars, and mystics who shaped the entire Western Church.
The story of German Catholicism stretches back to St. Boniface, the English monk who evangelized the Germanic tribes in the 8th century and became known as the "Apostle of Germany." He established dioceses, founded monasteries, and was martyred in 754 near Dokkum. The faith he planted flourished through the medieval period, producing magnificent cathedrals that still dominate German cityscapes today. Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), begun in 1248 and not completed until 1880, houses the Shrine of the Three Kings—said to contain the relics of the Magi who visited the Christ Child—making it the most visited pilgrimage site in Germany.
Bavaria in the south remained staunchly Catholic through the upheavals of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, preserving traditions of popular piety that continue today. The alpine sanctuary of Maria Gern near Berchtesgaden, the ancient abbey of Ettal founded by Emperor Ludwig IV in 1330, and the pilgrimage church of Wies (Wieskirche) with its miraculous weeping statue all draw pilgrims seeking the Blessed Virgin's intercession. The Rhineland and Westphalia maintain their own Catholic character, centered on great cathedral cities like Mainz, Trier, and Münster.
Germany has also given the Church remarkable saints: St. Hildegard of Bingen, the 12th-century mystic and Doctor of the Church; St. Albert the Great, teacher of Thomas Aquinas; St. Peter Canisius, defender of the faith during the Reformation; and in modern times, St. Edith Stein (Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), the Jewish philosopher who became a Carmelite nun and died at Auschwitz. Today, whether visiting the Marian shrine of Altötting, walking in the footsteps of medieval pilgrims to Trier's Holy Robe, or admiring the Baroque splendor of Bavaria's churches, pilgrims discover a living Catholic tradition that has shaped European civilization.
Altötting is Germany's national Marian shrine and the "Heart of Bavaria." The Chapel of Grace (Gnadenkapelle) houses a small, black wooden statue of the Virgin Mary dating from around 1330. Pilgrims have sought her intercession here for over 500 years, and the walls of the chapel are covered with votive offerings and silver hearts containing the hearts of Bavarian rulers, including King Ludwig I. Pope Benedict XVI, a native Bavarian, visited his "spiritual home" in 2006. Over one million pilgrims come annually.
Ettal Abbey (Kloster Ettal) was founded in 1330 by Emperor Ludwig IV following a vision. The Benedictine monastery houses a miraculous marble statue of the Virgin brought from Rome and is renowned for its Baroque basilica with a massive dome. The monks still produce their famous Ettaler liqueurs.
Wieskirche (Church of the Wies) near Steingaden is a UNESCO World Heritage masterpiece of Bavarian Rococo. The pilgrimage church was built after a neglected wooden statue of the Scourged Savior was seen to shed tears in 1738. The interior, designed by the Zimmermann brothers, is considered one of the most beautiful church interiors in the world.
Maria Gern near Berchtesgaden offers a quintessentially Bavarian pilgrimage experience. The small Baroque church sits at 990 meters elevation with stunning views of the Watzmann mountain, housing a Gothic Madonna and Child venerated since the 14th century.
Andechs (Kloster Andechs) on its "Holy Mountain" overlooking the Ammersee has been a pilgrimage destination since the 12th century. The Benedictine monastery houses important relics and is also famous for its brewery. The combination of pilgrimage and Bavarian hospitality makes it unique.
Munich contains several significant churches. The Frauenkirche (Cathedral of Our Lady) with its distinctive twin onion domes has been the symbol of Munich since the 15th century. St. Michael's Church (Michaelskirche) is the largest Renaissance church north of the Alps and contains the tomb of King Ludwig II. The Theatine Church (Theatinerkirche) and Asamkirche showcase Bavarian Baroque at its finest.
Cologne (Köln) revolves around its magnificent cathedral, the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. The Shrine of the Three Kings, a gilded masterpiece of medieval goldsmithing, has drawn pilgrims since the relics were brought from Milan in 1164. The cathedral also holds the Gero Cross, the oldest large crucifix north of the Alps (c. 970), and the Madonna of Milan. Cologne was also home to St. Albert the Great and preserves his relics in St. Andrew's Church.
Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) was Charlemagne's capital and remains one of Germany's most important pilgrimage centers. The Palatine Chapel, begun in 799, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cathedral treasury houses the four great Aachen relics displayed every seven years during the Heiligtumsfahrt: the cloak of the Virgin Mary, the swaddling clothes of Christ, the loincloth from the Crucifixion, and the cloth that held John the Baptist's head.
Trier, Germany's oldest city, claims to possess the Holy Robe of Christ (Heiliger Rock), the seamless garment for which soldiers cast lots at the Crucifixion. The relic is displayed rarely—most recently in 2012—but when shown, it draws over a million pilgrims. Trier Cathedral, built over Roman foundations, also contains the relics of St. Helena, mother of Constantine.
Kevelaer on the Lower Rhine is the most visited Marian pilgrimage site in Germany, drawing nearly one million pilgrims annually. The devotion began in 1641 when a traveling merchant named Hendrick Busman heard a voice telling him to build a chapel. He placed a small print of the "Consoler of the Afflicted" in a roadside shrine, and healings soon followed.
Fulda preserves the legacy of St. Boniface, whose tomb rests in the Baroque cathedral. The Benedictine abbey he founded became one of the most important in medieval Germany. Pilgrims still venerate the saint who brought Christianity to the Germanic peoples.
Erfurt in Thuringia shaped the young Martin Luther, who entered its Augustinian monastery in 1505. The Catholic heritage predates the Reformation, with the magnificent Erfurt Cathedral and the Church of St. Severus dominating the cathedral square.
Mainz was the seat of one of the most powerful prince-archbishops in the Holy Roman Empire. St. Martin's Cathedral contains the tombs of 45 archbishops spanning a thousand years. The city also celebrates its connection to Johannes Gutenberg, whose printing press first mass-produced the Bible.
Münster in Westphalia suffered terribly in World War II but rebuilt its Gothic cathedral around the medieval St. Paul's Cathedral. The city's Catholic character was restored, and the Westphalian Marian pilgrimage tradition continues.
Maria Laach Abbey in the Eifel region is one of Germany's finest Romanesque monasteries, founded in 1093. The Benedictine abbey sits on the shore of the volcanic Laacher See and continues its thousand-year tradition of liturgical worship.
Beuron Archabbey in the Danube valley has been home to Benedictine monks since 1863. The monastery became famous for the Beuron Art School, which developed a distinctive sacred art style in the late 19th century.
Reichenau Abbey on an island in Lake Constance was one of the most important monasteries of the Carolingian era. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its three Romanesque churches contain important medieval frescoes.
Founding Saints:
Medieval Mystics and Doctors:
Counter-Reformation Saints:
Modern Saints:
Via Sacra - Ancient pilgrimage routes crisscross Germany, connecting major shrines. The route from Cologne to Trier was particularly popular in medieval times.
Jakobsweg (Way of St. James) - Multiple Camino routes cross Germany leading to Santiago de Compostela. Major starting points include Cologne, Munich, and Nuremberg, with routes often following the paths of medieval pilgrims.
Bonifatius-Route - A modern pilgrimage route traces the path St. Boniface's body was carried from Mainz to his burial place in Fulda, approximately 180 kilometers through the Vogelsberg and Rhön mountains.
Via Romea - The historic route from Scandinavia to Rome passes through Germany, with pilgrims following medieval paths through the heart of Europe.