Via Romea - pilgrimage trail through Europe

Route: Porta Claudia – Scharnitz – Seefeld // Seefeld – Auland – Reith – Leithen – Zirl - Innsbruck

The fact that all roads lead to Rome has long been known, not only among pilgrims. With the Via Romea, a historic pilgrimage route from Stade near Hamburg via Tyrol to Rome has recently been officially certified.
 
The pilgrimage route, which covers a total of 2,200 kilometers, goes back to Albert von Stade, abbot of the German monastery of the same name, who meticulously documented his pilgrimage to Rome, including a papal audience with Gregory IX in 1236. Thus, the pilgrimage route, which he christened "Via Romea", could be precisely reconstructed. Today, the maintenance is shared by the German and Italian association "Via Romea Germanica".
One of the most beautiful sections of the pilgrimage trail leads over 80 kilometers and four stages through Tyrol and the extensive natural diversity of the Olympiaregion Seefeld. At Scharnitz, in the shadow of the historic Alpine fortress Porta Claudia, pilgrims set foot on Tyrolean soil for the first time. Following in the footsteps of the ancient Romans, the hike continues along the extensive Karwendel Nature Park to Seefeld, the internationally renowned heart of the Olympiaregion (Stage 1).
 
From Seefeld, the pilgrimage trail then leads via Auland, Reith and Leithen to Zirl and on to Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol (stage 2). Through the Wipptal and via Matrei (stage 3) it continues to the Brenner Pass (stage 4), where you finally cross the Alps into South Tyrol and Italy.
 
On their route through Tyrol, the pilgrims pass through a variety of landscapes and vegetation, experience cultural highlights, historical sites and the Tyrolean hospitality on the most important Alpine route to the south.
 
After a text by Ferdinand Treml, Via Romea Germanica.