Linzgauer Jakobsweg

At a Glance

• Start / Finish: Meßkirch → Konstanz
• Length: 63.2 km (including the boat passage)
• Elevation: ↗ 718 m / ↘ 920 m
• Highest point: around 724 m (near Hohenbodman)
• Duration: 2–3 days (3 stages)
• Special feature: boat passage across Lake Constance (Überlingen → Wallhausen)
• Waymark: yellow ray bundle on a blue field

Overview

The Linzgau Way of St. James runs from Meßkirch via Pfullendorf and Überlingen to Konstanz — about 63 kilometers through the Linzgau, the gentle hill country between the upper Danube valley and Lake Constance. It is the eastern closing section of the Via Beuronensis, the network of Ways of St. James between Tübingen/Ulm and Konstanz maintained by the Beuron pilgrim community.

This is a route to savor: short distance, little climbing, big landmarks — the former Cistercian convent of Wald, the old imperial town of Pfullendorf, Überlingen on the lake. And a finale no other German Way of St. James offers: the last stage begins with a boat passage across Lake Constance.

A decision comes as early as the first stage: at Wald, by the former Cistercian convent, the Via Beuronensis divides. The Linzgau route stays east and heads via Pfullendorf and Überlingen to the northern shore — with the boat passage as its finale. The Hegau Way of St. James swings west via Stockach, the Bodanrück ridge and Radolfzell to the Untersee and follows the Gnadensee to Konstanz: about eight kilometers longer, noticeably more climbing, and in exchange the UNESCO monastic island of Reichenau as a detour. Both take three days, and both end at Konstanz Minster.

Like the whole network, this section has been recognized as a pilgrim route in Santiago de Compostela since 2009 — the stamps you collect here count all the way to Galicia.

Other Names

The route is named after the Linzgau, the countryside north of the Überlinger See. In German it is called Linzgauer Jakobsweg, occasionally Linzgauer Jakobusweg; as part of the network it also goes by Via Beuronensis.

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

Ideal for first-time pilgrims and anyone short on time: three days, easy terrain, good infrastructure — and with the lake crossing, a finish you won't forget. It is also the perfect finale for anyone already walking the Via Beuronensis.

Not your route if you're after solitude and wild nature: the Linzgau is farmed, lived-in country with a noticeable share of asphalt and farm tracks, and the lakeside gets busy in summer — in high season the shore towns are full and beds are pricey. The second stage is also markedly longer than the other two.

Route & Landscape

From Meßkirch — just outside town, Campus Galli is building a monastic town to a medieval plan — the way leads through woods and meadows to Wald with its former Cistercian convent, and on to Pfullendorf, whose church of St. James tells you in its very name that you are on the right track.

Then the Linzgau takes over: via Großschönach with the Ramsberg and past the lookout tower of Hohenbodman, the hills roll gently toward the lake until Lake Constance opens up at Überlingen. The final stage starts on the water: by boat to Wallhausen, then along the shore via Litzelstetten — with views of Mainau island — to the minster of Konstanz.

Stages, Terrain & Difficulty

The operator describes the route in three day stages:

1. Meßkirch → Pfullendorf — through woods and meadows, past Wald Monastery
2. Pfullendorf → Überlingen — the longest stage: over Ramsberg and Hohenbodman down to the lake
3. Überlingen → Konstanz — the shortest and most unusual: by boat to Wallhausen, then along the shore to Konstanz

The terrain is easy — no climbs to speak of, plenty of farm and forest tracks, some asphalt. Waymarking runs in one direction only, toward Konstanz (and thus Santiago); the mark is a yellow ray bundle on a blue field whose focal point shows the walking direction. On meadow sections the path is not always obvious — keep an eye on the marks.

By Boat Across the Lake — and Through 600 Years of Pilgrim History

The finale is one of a kind: from Überlingen you cross to Wallhausen on the small ferry run by Giess & Giess. The boat runs seasonally (roughly April to October) — check the timetable in advance. Out of season, take the bus to Meersburg, the car ferry to Konstanz-Staad, and walk the last 6 kilometers or so along the shore.

Pilgrims are nothing new here: in Überlingen a brotherhood of St. James existed by the 15th century at the latest, running its own pilgrim hospice; the church of St. Jodok was endowed in 1424 and consecrated as the brotherhood's church in 1462. And in Konstanz, the Mauritius rotunda at the minster, with its replica of the Holy Sepulchre, was itself a pilgrimage destination in the Middle Ages.

A quiet highlight lies on the second stage: the hermitage of St. Benedict on the Ramsberg near Großschönach, a hermitage of Beuron Archabbey. From 1993 Brother Jakobus Kaffanke lived here as a hermit — the monk who later founded the Beuron pilgrim community and had the Via Beuronensis waymarked. You are literally walking past the seed from which this route grew.

Highlights Along the Way

• Campus Galli — monastic construction site near Meßkirch: a monastery town being built with 9th-century methods to the St. Gall plan.
• Wald Monastery — former Cistercian convent (founded 1212) with a fine monastery church.
• Pfullendorf — old town of the former free imperial city, with the church of St. James.
• Hermitage of St. Benedict on the Ramsberg — hermitage of Beuron Archabbey, the seed of the Beuron pilgrim community.
• Hohenbodman lookout tower — panorama over the Linzgau, the Überlinger See and, on clear days, the Alps.
• Überlingen — lakeside promenade and the St. Jodok church of the historic brotherhood of St. James.
• Lake Constance passage — by boat from Überlingen to Wallhausen: the most unusual leg of any German Way of St. James.
• Konstanz Minster — with the Mauritius rotunda, a pilgrimage destination since the Middle Ages — and the start of the Schwabenweg.

How Pilgrims Reach This Route

Meßkirch is the hub of the Via Beuronensis: this is where the Beuron Way of St. James via Beuron Archabbey and the flatter Hohenzollern route via Sigmaringen both end — the Beuron route coming from Tübingen via Hechingen, the Hohenzollern route from Hechingen. The Linzgau route is their natural continuation toward the lake.

In Pfullendorf the Habsthal route joins as well, coming from Ulm over the Bussen — the “holy mountain of Upper Swabia.” It is the natural link for anyone who has walked the Way of St. James Nuremberg–Ulm and wants to keep going toward Lake Constance.

Continue Your Pilgrimage?

Konstanz is not an end point but a gateway: right at the minster begins the Schwabenweg, which — as part of the Via Jacobi — leads through the cantons of Thurgau, Zurich and Schwyz to Einsiedeln Abbey and on to Geneva.

Then France takes over: from Le Puy-en-Velay the Via Podiensis, and from the Pyrenees the Camino Francés — from Konstanz to Santiago, a good 2,300 kilometers still lie ahead.

Preparation & Practical Information

The route is doable year-round; the Lake Constance climate is mild. The key variable is the boat: the Überlingen—Wallhausen ferry runs seasonally, and outside the season you take the Meersburg variant. In high season (July/August) book beds in Überlingen and Konstanz early.

You get your pilgrim credential from the pilgrim office of the Beuron pilgrim community (via-beuronensis.de); many churches have stamps. From 100 documented kilometers the community issues a free pilgrim certificate — the Linzgau route alone stays below that at a good 63 kilometers, but combined with the route from Tübingen you clear the mark easily.

Three stages are easy to adapt — easiest directly in the Camino Ninja app, where you build your stages and plan matching accommodation as you go.

What the Journey Will Cost You

Budget €60—100 per day for lodging and food (as of August 2026). Inland (Meßkirch, Pfullendorf) is cheaper; the lakeside towns of Überlingen and Konstanz are markedly pricier in high season. Add the small fare for the boat passage.

Getting There

Meßkirch has no passenger station — take the train to Sigmaringen or Stockach and continue by bus. Konstanz, by contrast, is very well connected: rail via Singen/Radolfzell, Switzerland starts right behind the station in Kreuzlingen, and Zurich airport is about an hour away.

• Getting to Meßkirch: train to Sigmaringen or Stockach, then bus (bahn.de).
• Return from Konstanz: Deutsche Bahn — connections from Konstanz station.
• Ferry Überlingen–Wallhausen: Giess & Giess — seasonal timetable.