About 194 kilometers from the Wartburg near Eisenach to Marburg – in the footsteps of Saint Elizabeth, and at the same time a Way of St. James.
The Elisabethpfad 2 is the eastern one of the three Elisabeth paths and links the two central places of Saint Elizabeth's life: the Wartburg near Eisenach, where she lived as Landgravine of Thuringia, and her grave in Marburg. It was inaugurated in 2007 for Elizabeth's 800th birthday.
The route is at the same time waymarked as a Way of St. James and part of the gap-closing in the European network. At just under 194 kilometers it is the longest of the three paths.
Ideal if Saint Elizabeth's life story speaks to you and you want a longer, quiet upland route from the Wartburg to the Elizabeth grave – with its double role as Elisabeth path and Way of St. James.
Less suitable if you depend on consistently perfect waymarking: in forests and at the crossing of the Grünes Band, signs are sometimes missing. A guidebook (the association publishes one) and some sense of direction are advisable.
From the foot of the Wartburg in Eisenach the route runs over Creuzburg and through the Hessian-Thuringian uplands. Near Lüderbach it crosses the Grünes Band, the former inner-German border.
On over Waldkappel, Spangenberg, Homberg (Efze), Schwalmstadt (Ziegenhain and Treysa), Stadtallendorf, Kirchhain and Amöneburg the route finally reaches Marburg with the Elisabethkirche.
The route is divided into nine sections (Eisenach–Creuzburg–Waldkappel–Spangenberg–Homberg–Spieskappel–Treysa–Kirchhain–Marburg). The terrain is consistently upland with steady ups and downs through forests and over open heights. It is waymarked red (Elisabeth path); where the Way of St. James forms its own variant, it is additionally marked blue.
No place embodies Saint Elizabeth like the Wartburg: here she lived as a young landgravine before – after her husband's death – devoting herself entirely to serving the poor and the sick and moving to Marburg. The Elisabethpfad 2 thus spans the arc from her noble life (the Wartburg) to her grave (Marburg).
In Marburg all three Elisabeth paths meet, and the goal – the Elizabeth grave – is reached. As the route is also waymarked as a Way of St. James, it ties into the European network; from Marburg the Elisabethpfad 1 (toward Frankfurt) and Elisabethpfad 3 (toward Köln) lead onward.
The best time is spring to autumn. Accommodation is in guesthouses, inns and private homes – a pilgrim credential is useful for stamps. The association publishes its own guidebook and keeps accommodation lists.
Germany is more expensive than Spain. Budget roughly €45–75 per day for accommodation and food; simple lodgings and self-catering lower the cost.
The starting point is Eisenach, well connected to the rail network.
Boutique-Hotel Villa Anna
Open season unknown
Gästehaus am Storchenturm
Open season unknown
Everything you need for the Elisabethpfad 2 (Eisenach – Marburg), shipped to your door.
Visit Camino Shop
