Jakobsweg Höxter–Dortmund

At a Glance

• Start / Finish: Höxter (Corvey Abbey) → Dortmund (St. Reinoldi)
• Length: approx. 181 km
• Stages: 9 (15–27 km per day)
• Duration: 8–10 days
• Regions: North Rhine-Westphalia — Weserbergland, Eggegebirge, Hellweg-Börde, eastern Ruhr region
• Highest point: 412 m (Iburg Ascent, Stage 3)
• Difficulty: Moderate — challenging on the first three stages, then flat; about 57% asphalt and road
• Waymarking: A yellow scallop shell on a blue background, used consistently since 2010
• Organisation: Commission for Archaeology in Westphalia (LWL) — opened on March 24, 2010

Overview

The The Way of St. James: Höxter–Dortmund It isn't named after a saint—it's named after a street: In 9 stages and 181 kilometers he follows the Hellweg, the pre-Christian east-west axis along which salt, grain, and herring were transported eastward from the Rhine during the Middle Ages. You’re traveling it in reverse: from the UNESCO World Heritage Site Corvey along the Weser River, through the Egge Mountains, to Paderborn, then straight across the Börde through Soest, Werl and Unna, until, at the end, the tower of St. Reinoldi is located right in the heart of Dortmund. It has been researched, archaeologically verified, and at the 24. März 2010 The Commission for Antiquities of Westphalia inaugurated it—as the state's second Way of St. James, marked with a yellow scallop shell on a blue background.

What makes this path worthwhile is not the landscape, but the abundance of evidence. 836 The relics of St. Vitus were brought to Corvey and those of St. Liborius to Paderborn—in the same year, along the same route, and the pilgrims visited both. On the 2. Dezember 1304 The Soest City Council established a pilgrims' hostel in front of the Jakobitor, which still welcomes guests today. And at the Provost Church in Werl, there were Pilgerzeichen und Pilgergräber — People who were buried with the shell. To be honest, about 57 percent of the route consists of asphalt and paved roads, and almost the entire climb is concentrated in the first three stages. Those who walk the Hellweg are walking through cultural history—not wilderness.

Documented in 1304, abandoned in 1531, re-marked in 2010

In 2. Dezember 1304 The Soest City Council established a pilgrim hostel by ordinance—and took a practical approach: It was deliberately located outside the city walls at the Jakobitor, so that pilgrims who were unable to enter the city before the gates closed would not have to sleep outdoors. Its Low German name is the most beautiful phrase along this route: “Pilgrim-Hius an Sünte Jaokobs-Paoten”—Pilgrim House at St. James’s Gate. Dendrochronology dates the structure to 1294, during the Soest Feud 1444–1449 moved the inn to a sturdy stone building, and it still stands today: Westphalia’s oldest inn, now a hotel. On this trip, you can stay in a building that has done nothing but welcome travelers for over 700 years.

The breakup was on that exact day. On 20. November 1531 The Dominican friar Thomas Borchwede posted 22 theses at St. Patrokli in Soest; even before Christmas, the letter of alliance established the Protestant confession, 1533 the city became definitively Protestant—and with the Reformation, pilgrimages along the Hellweg came to an end. At the other end of the path, the same pattern played out in slow motion: the relics of Dortmund’s Saint Reinoldus were carried around 1614 secretly to the Archbishop of Toledo, where they still lie in the cathedral today; 1792 Due to financial difficulties, the municipality auctioned off a shrine and a bust reliquary. First 1982 A piece of a shinbone was returned. So the saint of the destination has himself completed the longest pilgrimage—to Spain and halfway back.

The revival is science, not nostalgia: 1987 The Council of Europe designated the Way of St. James as the first European Cultural Route, and the Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe allocated approximately 300.000 Euro into the exploration of the old routes, and the Commission for Archaeology verified the route archaeologically through sunken paths, milestones, and watchtowers—you can actually touch the reconstructed Haxter Warte near Paderborn. At the 24. März 2010 This paved the way; in the same year, Volume 8 of the series “Routes of the Pilgrims to Santiago in Westphalia” was published. Only one thing is missing, and let’s be honest about it: there is no recorded mention of a pilgrim to Santiago from the Hellweg towns by name. Instead, the evidence here is made of lead and bone—a 15th-century pilgrim’s badge from Iburg and the pilgrims’ graves at Werl. Whoever walked here left no written record. He was buried with the scallop shell.

Other Names

This trail goes by several names, but this is not a source of confusion—rather, it is an extension. The Commission on Antiquities lists it as“Route 2 – From Höxter to Bochum”, the 2010 hiking guide is titled"From Höxter to Dortmund" (Volume 8 of the series “The Pilgrimage Routes of St. James in Westphalia”), Portals Say“The Way of St. James in Westphalia: Höxter–Dortmund”, the Archdiocese of Paderborn, simply"Hellweg". In 2010, the core section up to Dortmund was initially marked and described—nine stages, 181 kilometers, which is exactly the scope of this page; later, the LWL extended the markings to God bless further, which is why some sources cite around 200 kilometers, while the archdiocese even lists 217 kilometers. The oldest name of all is, in any case, Hellweg: The road existed long before the first pilgrim on the Way of St. James.

Who It's Ideal For—and Who It's Not So Ideal For

Perfect if you want to set out on a pilgrimage from your own front door in a week and a half—no flights, no language barriers, no fear of heights. And perfect if you’re more interested in stones than panoramic views: Spanning 181 kilometers, the route features a UNESCO World Heritage Site, two relic transfers from 836, Westphalia’s oldest inn, what is likely the world’s oldest playable organ, and a stained-glass window depicting Jesus being served ham and beer. What’s more, the route serves as a bridge: the Braunschweig Way of St. James ends in Höxter, while the continuation to Cologne awaits in Dortmund—anyone making a pilgrimage through Germany in stages needs this very stretch.

To be honest, though, it’s not for you if you’re looking for soft forest floors and solitude. About 57 percent of the route is paved roads; on the Werl–Unna leg, it’s about 95 percent, and between Paderborn and Salzkotten, 74 percent—those who walk the Hellweg pass through farmland, fields, town centers, and, toward the end, industrial parks on the outskirts of the Ruhr region—practically always within earshot of a train station. And anyone who lets the word “flat” fool them is in for a surprise at the start: The first three stages account for nearly the entire elevation gain—over 1,100 meters—with steep sections exceeding 15 percent on the way up to Modexer Warte and Iburg. You plan around such stages in advance, not once you’re already on the trail.

Route & Landscape

The trail begins at the Weser River and winds through three landscapes that could hardly be more different. In Höxter You start at the former imperial abbey Corvey, walk over the Heiligenberg and the Modexer Warte to the Hanseatic city Brakel, continuing through the forest to Emder Höhe, then steeply downhill and uphill to Bad Driburg — and from there, onto the trail's only real climb: to the Iburg, the old mountain spur above the spa town; at 412 meters, it is the highest point. When you stand at the top, the Egge Mountains are behind you.

After that, the trail levels off. From Paderborn he follows the Hellweg-Börde, the strip of fertile loess soil on which the route has lain since pre-Christian times: It remains at an elevation between 86 and 126 meters, following the brine from Salzkotten about Bad Westernkotten according to Erwitte and runs from Geseke until Soest right on the old trade route. Behind Werl the flatlands become the suburbs, behind Unna About the route: The final leg runs through Asseln, Brackel, and Körne along Ostenhellweg into downtown Dortmund, where the tower of St. Reinoldi The destination is marked. Salt, grain, and herring used to be transported eastward along this route—you're heading west, going against the flow.

Stages, Terrain & Difficulty

Nine stages, a good 44 hours of pure walking time—an average of 20 kilometers per day, but unevenly distributed: The shortest stage is 15 kilometers (Paderborn–Salzkotten), the longest 27 (Bad Driburg–Paderborn). The trail markers—a yellow shell on a blue background—are so reliable that the route descriptions explicitly state you won’t need a map; still, a GPS track doesn’t hurt, as the forest sections at the beginning are occasionally affected by logging operations. The difficulty lies in two areas: first, in the climbs during the first three days, and then in the trail surface—from Paderborn onward, the trail becomes flat but hard. Cushioned shoes are better here than stiff hiking boots. All stage distances are rounded figures—the total length of 181 km is the official figure.

1. Höxter (Corvey) → Brakel (approx. 23 km) — Starts at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Corvey and St. Kiliani, then passes by St. Michael’s Chapel on the Heiligenberg and the Modexer Warte on the way to the old Hanseatic city of Brakel. With 495 meters of elevation gain, this is the most challenging stage of the trail—and with 30% of the route on natural trails, it’s the gentlest on the feet.
2. Brakel → Bad Driburg (approx. 16 km) — From the Kloster auf der Brede, head west on dirt roads, then continue through the forest for a long stretch to the Emder Höhe, descend steeply to Alhausen, and climb just as steeply into downtown Bad Driburg. There are no places to stop for a break between Brakel and Alhausen—be sure to bring your own food.
3. Bad Driburg → Paderborn (approx. 27 km) — the longest stage, which begins with a steep ascent to Iburg above the spa town. This is followed by a descent to the Paderborn Plateau, through Schwaney and Dahl, past the reconstructed Haxter Warte, and on to the cathedral.
4. Paderborn → Salzkotten (approx. 15 km) — a short, flat stage (26 meters of elevation gain) from Domplatz through Wewer to the salt town of Salzkotten, home to the salt graduation tower, Dreckburg Castle, and the Franciscan Sisters’ motherhouse. The catch: 74% asphalt.
5. Salzkotten → Erwitte (approx. 26 km) — from the headwaters of the Heder River to Geseke, home to the collegiate church of St. Cyriakus and St. Petri, then via Störmede, Langeneicke, and the salt town of Bad Westernkotten to Erwitte. The trail remains at an elevation between 86 and 126 meters.
6. Erwitte → Soest (approx. 21 km) — the Hellweg route: via Lohne, St. Pantaleon, and Bad Sassendorf to the old Hanseatic city of Soest — St. Patrokli, St. Petri, Osthofentor, and in the Wiesenkirche, the “Westphalian Last Supper” from around 1500.
7. Soest → Werl (approx. 17 km) — from Jakobstor via Ampen, Ostönnen (home to the world’s oldest playable organ), Mawicke, and Westönnen to the Pilgrimage Basilica of St. Walburga in Werl. This is exactly the route taken by the Soest image of grace in 1661.
8. Werl → Unna (approx. 18 km) — via St. Kunibert in Büderich, Holtum, Hemmerde, and Stockum to Unna. This stage has the highest proportion of hard surfaces along the route (about 95% road and asphalt) — but very few inclines.
9. Unna → Dortmund (approx. 18 km) — the Ostenhellweg into the Ruhr region: Massen, Wickede, Asseln, Brackel, Wambel, Körne — and finally St. Reinoldi in the heart of Dortmund, where this trail ends and the next one begins.

All nine stage destinations are connected by rail—so you can split almost any stage, skip a section, or stay overnight at a lower cost and return by train in the morning. If you’re hesitant about the mountainous initial stretch, hop on the train at Paderborn From there on, the path is practically flat.

Highlights Along the Way

• Corvey near Höxter — Imperial Abbey, founded in 822 under Louis the Pious; since 2014, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Carolingian Westwork and Civitas Corvey.” In 833, the abbey was granted market privileges, including the right to mint coins and collect customs duties; in 836, the relics of St. Vitus arrived—and with them, the pilgrims.
• St. Kiliani in Höxter — Built around 800 as a mission chapel; today it serves as a stamp office and is the starting point in the city.
• Iburg near Bad Driburg — Bergsporn with St. Peter’s Church, where a 4.5-centimeter-tall lead pilgrim’s token from the 15th century was found. No one knows where the person who carried it was headed.
• Paderborn Cathedral — The burial church of Saint Liborius, whose relics arrived from Le Mans in 836—the same year as those of Saint Vitus in Corvey. From here, it is still about 2,600 kilometers to Santiago.
• Salzkotten Salt Graduation Plant — the brine that brought prosperity to the Hellweg, which you can touch and breathe in; plus Dreckburg and the Franciscan Sisters’ Motherhouse.
• The Wiesenkirche in Soest with the “Westphalian Last Supper” — A stained-glass window from around 1500, depicting the Last Supper table set with a pig's head, ham, beer mugs, and Westphalian bread. Judas can be recognized by his money pouch.
• Pilgrim House Soest — “Pilgrim-Hius an Sünte Jaokobs-Paoten”: designated as a pilgrim hostel by a city council ordinance dated December 2, 1304; the building dates from 1294—the oldest inn in Westphalia, now a hotel. In front of it stands the Jakobstor, whose name keeps the pilgrimage route alive in the cityscape to this day.
• St. Andrew's in Ostönnen — probably the oldest playable organ in the world: the wind chest has been dated to 1425–1431, and over 326 of the 576 pipes date from before 1500; Moved from Soest to the village in 1721–22 for 214 talers.
• St. Walburga Provost Church in Werl — A pilgrimage basilica housing the miraculous image dating from around 1170, which was brought from the Wiesenkirche in Soest on November 1, 1661. Pilgrim tokens and pilgrim graves were found at this church—tangible evidence that pilgrims on the Way of St. James passed through here.
• St. Reinoldi, Dortmund — The church: The tower, built between 1443 and 1454 and reaching a height of 112 meters, was known as “a wonder of Westphalia”; it collapsed in 1661, was rebuilt in the Baroque style, burned down in 1944, and was rededicated in 1956. Inside, there are choir stalls from 1462 and a 15th-century statue of Charlemagne.

How Pilgrims Find Their Way onto This Path

The most common route here is also the most beautiful—and it ends exactly where it begins: The Braunschweiger Jakobsweg runs in 13 stages and 270 kilometers from Magdeburg Cathedral through the Börde and the Weserbergland to the Kloster Corvey. Those who arrive there aren’t at the end, but at a handoff: the trail marking to Dortmund begins right at that same monastery wall. Together, the two trails cover 451 kilometers from the Elbe River to the Ruhr region—the Hellweg from start to finish.

If you're not from the East, just travel to Höxter...; the train station is within walking distance of Corvey. Along the way, there are two natural entry points: Paderborn, where many people join the route after the initial mountainous stretch because the path levels out from there on — and Soest, where the third Westphalian Way of St. James arrives from Minden via Lippstadt: Those coming from northern East Westphalia join the route there for the last three stages.

Continue the pilgrimage?

This path does not end in Dortmund; it intersects with another one: At St. Reinoldi, the Hellweg crosses Westphalia's major north-south axis—the The Westphalian Way of St. James, which runs in 11 stages over 227 kilometers from Osnabrück Cathedral through Münster and Dortmund to Cologne Cathedral. From Dortmund, the southern section lies ahead of you: through the Bergisches Land, past Hohensyburg Castle and Altenberg Cathedral, all the way to the Rhine.

From Cologne, you have a choice. The classic route to Santiago heads west: first the Jakobsweg Köln–Aachen on the old Niederstraße, then the Via Mosana through the Meuse Valley to Namur and on through the Champagne region to Vézelay, where the Via Lemovicensis takes over — all the way to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, the Camino Francés the Pyrenees and the final 780 kilometers. Alternatively, the Via Coloniensis From Cologne to Trier. According to the city itself, it’s still about 2,600 kilometers from Paderborn to Santiago—this route covers 181 of those kilometers and hands off the rest in Dortmund.

Preparation & Practical Information

The best time is April through October — The trail is accessible year-round, but in winter many churches are closed, stamp stations are harder to reach, and the Börde sections can be grueling in constant rain. Spring and early fall are the best times: dry forest sections at the start, open fields in the Börde, and the days are long enough to cover 25 kilometers without a headlamp. The hiking guide is Volume 8 of the LWL series “Wege der Jakobspilger in Westfalen” (Bachem, 2010)—compiled by the Commission on Antiquities under the project leadership of Ulrike Spichal.

As for accommodations: This is a German regional trail, not a Spanish Camino with a network of hostels. There are a few pilgrim hostels, but you’ll mainly be staying in guesthouses, inns, and hotels in the Hellweg towns—reservations are required; turning up unannounced doesn’t work as reliably here as it does in Galicia. The advantage of the location: All stage destinations have train connections, so you can take an alternative route almost every night or split up the stages. A Pilgrim's Passport (Credencial) It's worth it—stamp stations are set up in churches and parish offices (St. Kilian in Höxter, St. Michael in Brakel, St. Peter and Paul in Bad Driburg—and in Ostönnen, there are even two private locations—and anyone who walks at least 100 kilometers in Westphalia can receive a pilgrim certificate. Order the certificate online in advance so that you’ll have it in time for your start.

In terms of gear, this is a road trip with a forest twist: cushioned, broken-in shoes instead of stiff hiking boots, rain gear for the open plains—and provisions for Stage 2, where there’s nothing available between Brakel and Alhausen. With the Camino Ninja App You're in good hands—it has the entire route on board, and you can put together your own itinerary and plan suitable accommodations right away.

What the journey will cost you

Expect 60 to 95 euros per day, if you stay at guesthouses and inns and shop along the way—the realistic cost range for a German regional pilgrimage route (as of August 2026). The biggest expense is lodging: double rooms in the towns along the Hellweg usually cost between 50 and 85 euros, while single rooms rarely go below 55; where a church-run pilgrim hostel exists, it’s significantly cheaper—often on a donation basis—but you can’t rely on that for planning. Two things make it worth saving money: The stops along the route are cities with supermarkets and bakeries, and since every town has a train station, you can use the Deutschlandticket to stay overnight where it’s affordable and take the train back to your starting point in the morning. The cultural portion of the trip is open-ended—if you take all the guided tours in Corvey, at Paderborn Cathedral, and in Soest, you’ll spend an additional 5 to 12 euros per stop. And if you stay at the Pilgrimhaus in Soest, you’ll pay hotel prices for over 700 years of hostel history. You have to really want that—but it’s the most obvious indulgence along this route.

Getting Here

Höxter is located along the Ottbergen–Holzminden railroad line, with a connection via Altenbeken (Long-distance service from Hanover, Kassel, and Dortmund) or Paderborn. From the train station, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to the Old Town and St. Kiliani, and about two kilometers to Corvey—both starting points are within walking distance. If you’re looking for the Braunschweiger Jakobsweg Anyone who has been there before will arrive at Corvey anyway and won't need to travel there—just one night's stay.

Dortmund Central Station It is one of Germany’s largest long-distance transportation hubs and is located about one kilometer from St. Reinoldi—your journey home practically begins at the church tower. The nearest airports are Dortmund, Düsseldorf, and Cologne/Bonn, all of which are easily accessible by train. If you continue on directly, you won’t need to take the train: In Dortmund, the Westphalian Way of St. James heads toward Cologne.

• Getting to the starting point: Train to Höxter (via Altenbeken or Paderborn); see [bahn.de](https://www.bahn.de) for schedules.
• Getting on/off while the vehicle is moving: All stops along the route have a train station or stop—you can split up or skip sections almost at will; with the Deutschlandticket, this comes at virtually no additional cost.
• Return trip: Dortmund Central Station, ICE hub, about 1 km from the destination, St. Reinoldi.
• Airports: Dortmund (DTM), Düsseldorf (DUS), Cologne/Bonn (CGN) — all with rail connections.