Berliners Rediscover Their Faith Outdoors Through Pilgrimages
A small group of walkers—many of them retirees bundled in warm hats and jackets—formed a quiet circle in Berlin’s Grunewald forest. Their gathering, meant for silent reflection, invited participants to immerse themselves in nature while connecting with deeper spiritual reflections.
The session began with a brief meditation. The group leader, who works with the senior community in the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf area, gently encouraged everyone to walk in silence and remain aware of the natural world: the soothing wind, the warmth of the sun, and the fleeting moments that cannot be recaptured. After this time of reflection, the group embarked on an hour-long silent stroll through the park.
Across Berlin, similar Christian pilgrimage walks are taking place nearly every week, organized by various groups and open to both locals and visitors. These journeys offer a welcoming way to explore faith and community outside the traditional church setting. Some tours are led by pastors who appreciate the outdoors, while others allow individuals to set their own pace with designated stops at churches and other sacred locations. The duration of these pilgrimages can range from brief one-hour walks to extensive multiweek excursions.
Over the past few decades, pilgrimages have experienced a revival in Europe—particularly in southern Germany—as people in an aging and increasingly secular society seek to reconnect with their Christian heritage. Many believe that although they might no longer frequent church services, the inner spiritual quest remains alive.
Historically, journeys of devotion date back to the 1500s when devout Catholics trekked long distances to visit revered relics. Pilgrims would travel to holy destinations, such as Santiago de Compostela in Spain, as a testament to their faith and a means to seek forgiveness for their sins. However, during the early years of the Protestant Reformation, theologian Martin Luther dismissed such treks as unscriptural and criticized them as expressions of church excesses. He argued that God’s presence was everywhere and that there was no need to seek a single sacred site.
Today, the motivation behind these pilgrimages has evolved. While the medieval journeys were about seeking divine favor or atonement, modern walkers often describe a more personal quest. One church spokesperson from Berlin’s Spandau district noted that, nowadays, people embark on these walks in search of meaning that is hard to define, even though the act of walking often stirs profound emotions.
The renewed interest in pilgrimage has also been fostered by films that depict these journeys, sparking public interest and reintroducing the idea of walking as both a physical and spiritual practice. In Spandau, a 75-kilometer route modeled on this tradition now connects numerous Protestant and Catholic churches. Participants can explore this network by foot, bike, or even by canoe, collecting stamps at each sacred stop along the way.
For many, the pilgrimage is more than just a hike—it is a journey of the heart. Pastors guiding these routes explain that while the physical act is simply walking, the inner experience is about reconnecting with one’s true self and with God. One leader remarked that these treks help people find the strength to move forward, particularly during challenging phases of life such as the loss of a loved one, an illness, or personal setbacks. Disconnecting from modern distractions like smartphones also deepens the engagement with nature and the spiritual realm.
The communal nature of these walks offers additional benefits. Many seniors, for instance, find that the pilgrimages do not only keep them physically active but also help combat isolation by creating opportunities for genuine social interactions in a reflective setting. Likewise, young adults who may feel out of place in traditional church services are discovering that these outdoor journeys offer a refreshing alternative to explore both faith and philosophy.
One young founder of a local hiking group explained that he felt disconnected until he combined his love for the outdoors with his spiritual heritage. His group’s journeys—beginning with a prayer and interwoven with moments for personal reflection—demonstrate that one does not need to be deeply religious to sense the transformative power of nature.
At the end of a recent silent walk in the Grunewald, as the participants paused together to absorb the subtle changes in their surroundings—from the gentle emergence of spring buds to the soft rustling of leaves—a sense of renewed connection emerged. Some participants, many of them well into their senior years, ended the journey with new friendships and quietly rediscovered moments of spiritual solace.
The walk concluded with a heartfelt blessing that compared the warm sunlight and sustaining bread to the divine presence. For several participants, this spontaneous return to prayer—after many years away from regular church attendance—became a subtle yet powerful step back toward their faith.
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