Pilgrims on the oldest cultural path in Europe: an unforgettable experience!

Pilgrims on the oldest cultural path in Europe: an unforgettable experience!

Last weekend there was a lot going on in the Europa-Park in Rust, because the event "Musschel in Europe" attracted numerous pilgrims. The oldest cultural path in Europe introduced from Ettenheim to Rust and invited the participants to go on a spiritual journey to the grave of the apostle Jakobus in Santiago de Compostela. The Badische St. Jakobusgesellschaft and the "Church in the Europa-Park" were the organizers of this special event, which under the motto "Look, your sky is in me ...!" took place. Loud RegioTrends The pilgrim show began on Saturday in the Prinzengarten in Ettenheim, where Mayor Bruno Metz warmly welcomed the participants.

In bright sunshine, the pilgrims enjoyed the hike through the picturesque Ortenau. At the end of the first day, around 5 p.m., they were welcomed in the parish church "Petri Ketten" in Rust. The pastor of the "Church in the Europa-Park" spoke about the transforming power of the pilgrimage, which gave a lot to think. On Sunday morning, the participants were able to exchange experiences in the "Santa Isabel" hotel and experience a spiritual impulse. Jürgen Mack, owner of the European Park, attached particular importance to the fact that pilgrims were not only located, but above all a conscious walking.

special highlights of the event

The event was not only intended for experienced pilgrims; It was open to everyone interested and free. Here participants were able to exchange ideas and tell their stories. On the second day, the program was led by Norbert Scheiwe, the president of the Baden St. Jakobusgesellschaft. Together with Father Clemens Schlimann and Kurt Dauben, he gave an insight into their personal pilgrimage experiences. The participating pastors of the "Church in the Europa-Park" supported the experiences with spiritual impulses. The trio "Los Paraguayos" also ensured a musical framework that loosened up the ambience of the event.

a trend that is on the advance

In the context of the increasing number of pilgrimage, this event is particularly remarkable. The pilgrim statistics from 2024 show a record increase with almost 500,000 pilgrims on the Jakobsweg, an increase of 11.1 % compared to the previous year. These numbers reflect the growing interest in pilgrimage; More and more people are looking for inspiring experiences and community, which also underlines the success of the “Musschel in Europe” event. The biggest increase came from international pilgrims who strengthen their interest in spiritual hikes. Forecasts for 2025 indicate a possible number of up to 520,000 pilgrims, as Jakobsweg Lebensweg

The "Musschel in Europe" event has made an important contribution to strengthening the pilgrimage community and will certainly continue to move to the region in the future. So it remains to be hoped that such initiatives continue to exist and that the spiritual journey remains accessible and enriching for many people.