Via Regia Deutschland

At a Glance

• Start / Finish: Görlitz → Vacha
• Length: 473.7 km
• Elevation gain:↗ 3,619 m / ↘ 3,584 m
• Duration: about 19–24 days on foot (about three weeks from Görlitz)
• Marking: yellow-and-blue scallop shell
• Other names: Ecumenical Pilgrimage Route (German section name)
• Character: Historic East-West Pilgrimage Route through Saxony and Thuringia, Council of Europe Cultural Route

Overview

The Via Regia is one of the oldest roads in Europe—a “royal road” that connected East and West for centuries, and today is a Council of Europe Cultural Route. As a pan-European pilgrimage route, it stretches approximately 4,500 km and crosses eight countries: from Spain and France in the west to Ukraine in the east—passing through Belgium, Germany, Poland, Belarus, and Lithuania. This page describes the German section From Görlitz to Vacha.

Today, this section of the German pilgrimage route is known as the Ecumenical Pilgrimage Route: It runs from Görlitz on the Neisse River, across Saxony and Thuringia, through Leipzig, Erfurt, and Eisenach, all the way to Vacha on the Hessian border—managed by the Ökumenischer Pilgerweg e.V. association.

It is a relatively flat, historic route through the heart of Central Germany—featuring major cities, the history of the Reformation, and tranquil rolling hills.

Other Names

• German: Via Regia Germany, Ecumenical Pilgrimage Route
• English: Via Regia, Ecumenical Pilgrim Way

"Via Regia" is Latin for "royal road"—a medieval imperial highway under royal protection. "Ecumenical Pilgrimage" is the official designation exclusively for the German section between Görlitz and Vacha, managed by the association of the same name. The Polish section (from Kraków through Wrocław to Görlitz) operates under the name Via Regia Fireplace and is listed as a separate route on Camino Ninja.

Who This Route Is Ideal For—and Who It's Not So Ideal For

Ideal for a historic, easily accessible pilgrimage route through Germany that takes in major cities and sites associated with the Reformation—and as the eastern starting point of a long journey heading west. Mostly flat, easily manageable.

Not the best choice if you're looking for mountain views and wilderness: The trail winds through cultivated landscapes, fields, and towns.

Route & Landscape

From Görlitz, Germany's easternmost city, the route leads through Upper Lusatia (Bautzen) into the Saxon lowlands and on to Leipzig.

He continues through the Thuringian hills, passing through Naumburg and Erfurt on his way to Eisenach and the Wartburg, before reaching Vacha on the Werra River.

Stages, Terrain & Difficulty

At about 474 kilometers and with an elevation gain of only about 3,600 meters, the Via Regia is mostly flat to gently rolling—easily manageable in 19–24 days. The Ecumenical Pilgrimage Route is exceptionally well-marked (scallop shell logo). Accommodations: guesthouses, pilgrim hostels, and parish houses.

Reformation and Reichsstraße—the Heart of the Trail

The Via Regia is a journey through German history: Luther entered the monastery in Erfurt, and he translated the New Testament at Wartburg Castle near Eisenach. Leipzig and Naumburg (cathedral, UNESCO) round out this rich cultural heritage.

At the same time, you’ll be following the medieval imperial road once traveled by merchants, kings, and pilgrims. Fittingly, the first German-language pilgrim’s guide to Santiago was written around 1495 by Hermann Künig von Vach, a Servite monk from the very same Vacha that today marks the western endpoint of the route.

• Plane in Erfurt and Eisenach (Wartburg) Each one marks a milestone in the history of the Reformation.
• Görlitz (Old Town Gem) and Naumburg (Cathedral) are also worth a visit.
• The trail is flat—ideal for long, steady stretches.

Highlights Along the Way

• Görlitz – Germany's easternmost city with a magnificent old town.
• Leipzig – A city of music and trade fairs, Bach, and the Reformation.
• Naumburg – Cathedral with its famous statues of benefactors (UNESCO).
• Erfurt – medieval town, Luther Monastery.
• Eisenach – Wartburg, where Luther translated the Bible.

How Pilgrims Find Their Way onto This Path

The influx from the east comes via the Via Regia Poland: It ends at the Neisse River in Görlitz, where the German section of the old Royal Road begins.

We also describe the first leg of the journey to Thuringia separately as Sächsischer Jakobsweg– If you only have a week, choose this section. Direct access with train connections: Görlitz, Bautzen, Leipzig, and Erfurt.

Continue the pilgrimage?

The German section is one link in a long chain. To the east, in Görlitz, it connects with the Via Regia Poland— 935 km via Wrocław and Kraków to the Ukrainian border at Medyka. In the west, in Vacha, the trail marker changes from the yellow-and-blue shell of the Ecumenical Pilgrimage Route to the blue shell of the Rhön Way of St. James toward Fulda—from there, other Ways of St. James lead via Frankfurt and the Rhineland to France and ultimately to Santiago.

Preparation & Practical Information

The best time to visit is from spring through fall. Along the route, there is a network of about 100 hostels located at convenient intervals that offer simple lodging; there are also guesthouses and parish accommodations. The Ökumenischer Pilgerweg e.V. association publishes addresses, maps, and route descriptions in its own pilgrim guide. A pilgrim’s passport is useful for collecting stamps and securing lodging.

What the journey will cost you

Germany is more expensive than Spain. Roughly estimate €45–75 per day (guesthouses/pilgrim lodgings), plus meals; basic accommodations and self-catering will lower your costs.

Getting There

The starting point is Görlitz, which is easily accessible by train from Dresden.

• Train to Görlitz: Connections via Dresden. Deutsche Bahn– Connections and tickets.
• Return trip from Vacha: via Eisenach to the rail network. Deutsche Bahn– Connections from Eisenach.