East Bavarian Way of St James

In short: Around 273 kilometres from Eschlkam to Donauwörth. The section from Eichstätt to Donauwörth measures about 60 kilometres.

The East Bavarian Way of St James links the Bohemian border with the network of Ways of St James in western Bavaria. Pilgrims from the Czech Republic and the Bavarian Forest continue from here towards Santiago. For the Altmühltal it is the most important long-distance connection, as it runs right through Eichstätt.

The route in brief

The sections in the Altmühltal

For many people the stretch between Bad Abbach and Eichstätt is the most beautiful part. The Diocese of Passau offers this section as a five-day pilgrimage. From there the route leads through the Altmühltal to the centre of the region.

From Eichstätt it is around 60 kilometres to Donauwörth, past the former abbey church of Bergen and the former imperial abbey of Kaisheim. The first stage to Rennertshofen measures almost 29 kilometres, which is longer than most beginners would plan, so split it if you need to.

Who the route is for

Because the route is less well known than the Spanish ones, you will often walk alone. Reserve your accommodation in advance, as there are hardly any pilgrim hostels of the Camino kind here. You should still bring a pilgrim passport.