The Way of St. James: The Leg from St. Wendel to Tholey
This stage leads from the Basilica of St. Wendelin in St. Wendel through Wendelinus Park, via Winterbach and Alsweiler, to the Abbey Church of St. Mauritius in Tholey. This 15-kilometer stage of the Way of St. James to Tholey begins at the Basilica of St. Wendelin. It runs parallel to the Wendelinus Pilgrimage Trail from St. Wendel to the Abbey Church in Tholey, whose symbol is a stylized black pilgrim’s staff with a cross on a white background. Along the route, signs with reflective texts have been placed to encourage pilgrims to pause and reflect. At the same time, they are meant to offer encouragement and strengthen the spirit. St. Wendel was first mentioned in 496 AD as Basonvillaris. In the 6th century, St. Wendelin lived here; he belonged to an Irish-Scottish monastic movement. According to legend, as a prince, he was on his way to Rome to receive the royal crown but instead settled in St. Wendel as a hermit. Exactly where he thrust his staff into the ground during a great drought stands today the Wendelinus Chapel, dedicated to him, with a fountain. The name “St. Wendalino” was first mentioned in the 14th century in a document by Baldwin of Luxembourg, the Archbishop of Trier, as part of the early medieval veneration of St. Wendelin. He sought to develop the town into an economic and cultural center, and thus St. Wendel was granted market and town rights in 1332. Construction of the St. Wendelin Basilica began soon after, but it was not completed until 1460 in the late Gothic style. With the tall spire of its west tower, it is a landmark visible from afar and is considered one of the most beautiful hall churches in Germany. The remains of Saint Wendelin are still housed today in the raised tomb at the altar. An image of St. James holding a scallop shell is displayed on the side of the tomb. As an important pilgrimage church, the Basilica of St. Wendelin attracts numerous pilgrims, especially during the annual pilgrimage events at Pentecost and during St. Wendelin Week. The medieval atmosphere around the Fruchtmarkt conveys a sense of St. Wendel’s former importance as a pilgrimage center. Pilgrims leave the city center via Luisenstraße toward Alsfassen and soon reach Wendelinus Park with its golf course. Just past Wendelinus Park lies the Wallesweilerhof with the St. Anne Chapel, a listed historic monument. The chapel marks the first stop on the pilgrimage. Magnificent views of the rolling landscape of the Saar-Hunsrück Nature Park and a wonderful vista of the 569-meter-high Schaumberg accompany pilgrims as they continue their hike toward Winterbach and Alsweiler. The Hiwwelhaus in Alsweiler is the oldest farmhouse in southwestern Germany to have retained its original character and is located just 300 m from the trail. The route then continues through the Alsbach Valley, culminating in a beautiful view of Tholey and its venerable abbey church. Another detour is well worth taking to the Roman archaeological site at Wareswald near Tholey. An important Gallo-Roman settlement once stood there at the intersection of two Roman roads. Today, researchers in Wareswald are investigating the traces of our ancestors and their way of life. Initial finds—such as numerous remains of bathhouses, underfloor heating systems, and elaborate wall paintings—suggest a high standard of living among the population at that time. The final stop on this leg is the Abbey Church of St. Mauritius in Tholey, which is just a few meters away. The abbey church dates back to the 12th century. Its predecessor church was first mentioned in 634 A.D. Benedictine monks still live and work in Tholey today. In the fall of 2020, the church reopened following extensive renovation work; the three newly designed main choir windows by Gerhard Richter are particularly worth seeing. A visit to the “Theulegium” museum is also well worth your time.
- Length
- 14.6 km
- Walking time
- approx. 4:15 h
- Ascent
- 247 m
- Descent
- 141 m
Walking time as stated by the operator.
Elevation profile calculated by Fairvisit from satellite elevation data. Ascent and descent usually differ by up to about 10 %, more on steep terrain.
Start
Wendelinusbasilika
Nearby
Along the way
Finish
Benediktinerabtei St. Mauritius Tholey
Nearby