The Way of St. James in Austria
Pilgrimage in Austria
Never before have pilgrimages enjoyed such popularity - 190 million people around the globe went on pilgrimages in 2008, and in Austria, too, this traditional and reflective form of travelling has seen a steady upturn - especially when it comes to the Way of St. James.
For pilgrims arriving from Hungary or Slovakia, the Hainburg gate marks the entry point to the Austrian Way of St. James. From there, the path follows the river Danube upstream. On the Danube Limes road built by the Romans, it runs through Vienna and takes pilgrims all the way to Feldkirch via Linz and Innsbruck. The way leads on to Switzerland, where one can, through the pilgrims' centre Maria Ensiedeln, connect onto the historical "Oberstraß" which will take one onwards to Santiago de Compostela.
St. James' cathedral in Innsbruck
Besides the Bamberg cathedral and the cathedral in Santiago, the St. James' cathedral in Innsbruck is one of three episcopal churches dedicated to St. James and therefore marks a special place in the network of Ways of St. James in Europe.
Way of St. James in southern Morovia
Friends of the Way of St. James from southern Morovia were inspired to create the route leading from Brno to Mikulov (see www.jakubskacesta.cz) by the activities in the Weinviertel region. The Way of St. James in the Weinviertel region starts on the main square in Drasenhofen. After 153.6 km, the way becomes the section Göttweig-Melk section at Mautern an der Donau.
Please find more information on the Ways of St. James in Austria at:
www.jakobswege-a.eu