3rd Stage Hildegard of Bingen Pilgrimage Trail: Kirn - Monzingen

Kirn - St. Johannisberg Collegiate Church / Skywalk – Ruin Brunkenstein – Dhaun Castle - Simmertal –...

Worth seeing in Kirn are, in addition to the many half-timbered houses, the Protestant church, the town hall - formerly built as a Piarist monastery, the Salm-Kyrburg winery, and the Kyrburg, the landmark of the city. Today, Kirn is known far beyond the borders of Rhineland-Palatinate thanks to the Kirner Privatbrauerei Ph. & C. Andres. For this reason, an information board in the marketplace is dedicated to the topic "Beer and other beverages at Hildegard."

The path is characterized by forests, open views, and the thrill of the Nahe-Skywalk in St. Johannisberg, as well as the wine landscape of the upper Nahe. A total of nine information boards along the stage provide information about Hildegard, her work, and life in the Middle Ages.

Hildegard von Bingen Pilgrimage Trail

Hildegard von Bingen, abbess, poet, theologian, naturalist, and healer, lived her entire life in today's Nahe vacation region.

The 137-kilometer-long Hildegard von Bingen Pilgrimage Trail passes various life stations of this probably most famous personality of the Middle Ages. The trail starts in Idar-Oberstein and continues through Niederhosenbach, the family seat and possible birthplace of Hildegard von Bingen, to Bad Sobernheim. Not far from here is the Disibodenberg monastery ruin, where Hildegard spent almost 40 significant years of her life. The pilgrimage trail finally ends in Bingen on the Rhine. Here, the Rupertsberg vaulted cellar still bears witness to Hildegard von Bingen's last place of work: In 1150, the saint founded the Rupertsberg monastery, which was her place of creation for 29 years. The last stations of this ecumenical pilgrimage trail are the Hildegard shrine in the pilgrimage church of St. Hildegard Rüdesheim-Ebingen and the Abbey of St. Hildegard Ebingen.

58 information and meditation boards along the entire route provide information about Hildegard's person, her work, and life in the Middle Ages. The spiritual side of Hildegard von Bingen is approached by hikers through meditation boards that follow visionary images from her main work "Silvias - Know the Ways" and provide impulses for meditation. The boards are written in both German and English.

The pilgrimage pass can be stamped at Naheland-Touristik GmbH, tourist information centers, gastronomy and accommodation businesses, various way stations, and finally at the Abbey of St. Hildegard in Eibingen.

Short biography of St. Hildegard von Bingen

1098: Birth of Hildegard von Bingen, probably in Niederhosenbach near Herrstein
1112: Entry into the Disibodenberg monastery near Bad Sobernheim, together with Jutta von Sponheim
1136: Hildegard von Bingen becomes the second magistra in the Disibodenberg monastery after the death of Jutta von Sponheim
around 1150: Foundation of a women's monastery in Bingen on the Rhine
1165: Foundation of a second women's monastery in Eibingen, the present pilgrimage church of St. Hildegard Rüdesheim-Eibingen
September 17, 1179: Hildegard von Bingen dies in Bingen on the Rhine
May 10, 2012: Canonization of Hildegard von Bingen by Pope Benedict XVI
October 7, 2012: Elevation to Doctor of the Church

Total Distance Pilgrimage Trail

Length

approx. 10 km

Duration

approx. 5 hrs

Difficulty

2/3

Fitness

4/6

Experience

6/6

Landscape

5/6

Ascent

482 m elev.

Descent

498 m elev.

Season recommendation

Jan

Feb

Mar

May

Jun

Jul

Oct

Nov

Dec

Additional information

Directions

In Kirn we find ourselves in the Protestant-influenced western Nahe region, which motivates us to engage with Hildegard as an early Protestant (Panel 11). From the marketplace in Kirn, the path leads out of the city and follows the parallel wine hiking trail Rhein-Nahe along the heights to the intersection with the Vitaltour Wildgrafenweg. We follow our path, which leads together with the Vitaltour to the Nahe-Skywalk in St. Johannisberg. Here we have a wonderful view of the Nahe Valley and an old quarry. In the nearby Protestant Stiftskirche St. Johannisberg, the Hildegard meditation invites reflection on the creation of man and his soul (Panel 12). The view of mining at the Skywalk, in turn, provides an opportunity to engage with Hildegard's book on metals (Panel 13).

The path now leads us to Hochstetten-Dhaun and continues in parallel with the Vitaltour Wildgrafenweg up to the heights and deeper into the forest. In the middle of the forest, the ruin of Brunkenstein can be found. The information board has Hildegard's book on reptiles as its theme and invites exploration of toads, snakes, dragons, and other prehistoric or legendary creatures (Panel 14).

A side path leads out of the forest up to Schloss Dhaun. During the stay there, engaging with Hildegard's music, which can already be heard on all meditation boards, could be exciting (Panel 15). From the castle courtyard, there is a beautiful view into the Simmerbach and Nahe Valley. Back on the Hildegard von Bingen Pilgrimage Trail, we go downhill along the Simmerbach to Simmertal. Down in Simmertal, there is an information board at the old town hall that deals with Hildegard's correspondence and her political engagement (Panel 16). – From Simmertal, we finally continue along the parallel wine hiking trail Rhein-Nahe over Weiler to the stage destination in Monzingen.

Safety notice

Hiking shoes recommended!

Equipment

Hiking shoes recommended!

Our tips for a carefree hiking experience:

Hiking is the perfect sport. With the right clothing and shoes, it is twice as much fun. Functional clothing, poles, and breathable backpacks are comfortable while hiking. However, good shoes are essential. Sturdy jogging or leisure shoes are only suitable for short distances on flat paths. For longer trails, we recommend stable hiking shoes with a grippy, non-slip sole. Also, think about sun protection and bring a drink. One liter of water is ideal.