Project space

In the circle of stars for a peaceful Europe

As an emblematic, poetic umbrella term, the “Stars’ Path/Chemin des étoiles” project underscores the idea of a common, peaceful Europe that has its roots in the network of paths used by the pilgrims of St. James towards Santiago de Compostela.

Spatially, the “Starry Path/Chemin des étoiles” reflects the now rediscovered, organic network of the paths of the pilgrims of St. James in the Middle Ages, which stretched from Mainz via St. Wendel, Worms or Speyer via Hornbach and via the “Knotenpunkt” Saarbrücken or Saargemünd on to Metz.

There is much to suggest that an alternative of the medieval route axes of the pilgrims of St. James from the direction of Worms probably also ran along the edge of the Haardt from Grünstadt - Neustadt - Edenkoben to Leinsweiler. This “Haardt axis” then joins the Palatinate | South route and continues in the same direction via Klingenmünster and Bad Bergzabern, from where it continues to Weißenburg in the direction of Strasbourg via the paths of the pilgrims of St. James in Alsace. Many important remains of the testimonies of the medieval building culture, among other things also former monasteries form here up to the present an imaginary connecting line. It is also documented, for example, that Rhodt unter der Rietburg had a brotherhood of St. James in the Middle Ages.

The “Haardt axis” is in the Map is shown as a stylized line and symbolically connects the Palatinate | South Route and Palatinate | North Route in our project area, along the Haardt Mountains. The medieval cultural monuments listed on this section are additionally visible in a separate stage. A wide range of hiking or biking trails invites you to visit these medieval testimonies on the “Haardt-Achse”. In individual cases, this extends the walking distances from the officially marked paths of the pilgrims of St. James.

Like pulsating veins, this regional network of paths through the multifaceted landscapes of the Palatinate, Alsace, Saarland and Lorraine exudes the inspiring spirit of being on the road on a European cultural route that is more than 1000 years old… under the Milky Way in the circle of stars.

Karte der Wege der Jakobspilger im Saarland und Lothringen

Core and cross-linking zone

Core zone

The so-called core zone of the project is formed by the landscapes along the two routes of the Way of St. James pilgrims in eastern and central Saarland, respectively. They lead from the former Benedictine monastery Hornbach in the Palatinate via the Saarland | South route to the French Sarreguemines as well as on the Saarland | North route to Saarbrücken up to the German-French state border to Saarbrücken/Spicheren.

In this project space, all three types of waymarkers can be discovered along the routes: Scallop stones, ornaments ornaments and Stars.

Networking zone

In a further phase, the project was expanded in the Saarland in the direction of St. Wendel and also to the neighboring regions of Palatinate, Lorraine and later Alsace. The idea of Europe - networking and the exchange of cultures - was to be extended further within the framework of the maxim “low budget - but most social and cultural spirit”.

This networking zone was under the sign of the shell, i.e. here only the so-called scallop shell stones were placed as waymarks to mark the medieval building culture or the visual axes along the path.

Route overview

Ways of the pilgrims of St. James in Saarland and Lorraine

Saarland | South route: Hornbach (stage destination/starting point) - Medelsheim - Kleinblittersdorf - Sarreguemines - Hérapel - Metz (stage destination)

Saarland | North Route: Hornbach (stage destination/starting point) - Blieskastel - Saarbrücken - Hérapel - St-Avold - Metz (stage destination)

Saarland | St. Wendel-Saarbrücken: Mainz (starting point, as of 2014: not yet developed as far as St. Wendel), incl. Köllertalschleife from the height of Riegelsberg

Connecting route Palatinate | North route - Saarland | North route: Homburg-Kirrberg - Wörschweiler - Blieskastel

Ways of the pilgrims of St. James in the Palatinate, Lorraine and Alsace

Palatinate southern route: Speyer (starting point) - Landau - Bad Bergzabern - Hornbach (stage destination/starting point), including links to the medieval escort road from Wissembourg in the direction of the former Cistercian monastery of Sturzelbronn and the former Benedictine monastery of Hornbach.

Connection to the paths of the pilgrims of St. James in Alsace: from Bad Bergzabern - Wissembourg - Strasbourg - Mont Ste-Odile

Northern Palatinate Route: Speyer (starting point) - Neustadt - Landstuhl - Hornbach (stage destination/starting point)

Klosterroute Südspange: Worms (starting point) - Saarbrücken (junction) - Metz (stage finish)

Göllheim - Kaiserslautern - Gelterswoog

Klosterroute Nordspange: Worms (starting point) - Saarbrücken (junction) - Metz (stage finish)

Göllheim - Otterberg - Landstuhl

To the interactive map