A roughly 88-kilometer link route from the pilgrimage site of Mariastein through the Baselbiet and the Jura foothills to Willisau – connecting to the Luzernerweg toward Huttwil.
The Verbindungsweg Mariastein – Willisau is a connecting route linking the Marian pilgrimage site of Mariastein with the Luzernerweg. From Mariastein monastery it runs over Ziefen in the Baselbiet to the former monastery of Schönthal, on to the Cistercian abbey of St. Urban and to Willisau in the Lucerne hinterland.
At about 88 kilometers with some 3,000 meters of climb, it's a fairly short, hilly route without high passes – the highest point is around 956 meters.
Ideal if you're coming from the Basel and Mariastein area and want to connect to the Luzernerweg and central Switzerland – on a quiet route through hill country with monasteries as landmarks.
Less suitable as a standalone pilgrimage goal: it is primarily a link route joining two ways.
From Mariastein the route runs over Ziefen in the Baselbiet to the former monastery of Schönthal. It continues through rolling hill country to St. Urban monastery and to Willisau.
Over about 88 kilometers the route splits comfortably into some 4–5 daily stages. The terrain is hilly but without high passes; the highest point is around 956 meters. As everywhere in Switzerland, you follow the yellow waymarking.
The link route meets the Luzernerweg at Willisau, which leads on to Huttwil. Via the Luzernerweg you connect to Switzerland's main axis, the Via Jacobi (Konstanz–Genf) – with the hub of Einsiedeln and the onward route toward western Switzerland and Genf (Geneva), where the Via Gebennensis continues toward Le Puy-en-Velay and ultimately Santiago.
The best time is spring to autumn. Accommodation is in guesthouses, inns and pilgrim lodgings – a pilgrim credential is useful for stamps and lodgings.
Switzerland is expensive. Budget roughly €60–100 per day for accommodation and food; simple lodgings and self-catering lower the cost.
Mariastein is reachable from Basel by public transport.
The Swiss Ways of St. James are maintained by the association Jakobsweg Schweiz – Compostelle Suisse (formerly "jakobsweg.ch", renamed after its 2026 merger with "Les Amis"). The association waymarks and maintains the routes, trains pilgrim guides and publishes route booklets and the pilgrim credential.
18th C Cottage near Basel, Hiking, Business, Couples, Families, Groups, Parking, Fast WiFi, Jura Mountains
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3-Zimmer im 2 OG mit Kochnische und separatem Bad nahe Langenthal
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Bed & Breakfast Metzerlen
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Everything you need for the Verbindungsweg Mariastein – Willisau, shipped to your door.
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