Geismar: Pilgrimage Routes and the Hülfensberg
Accommodation in Geismar
Several pilgrimage routes pass through Geismar; the Kreuzstieg Hülfensberg leads from here to the Hülfensberg. The Kanonenbahn Cycle Path also passes through the village. At its center is St. Ursula Church, while nearby Geismar, the Hülfensberg—with its pilgrimage tradition and Romanesque Hülfenskreuz—awaits exploration. When planning, you can choose between circular trails, a stage of the nature park trail, and a cycling route with its own intermediate stops.
Pilgrimage Routes, Stages, and Cycling Route
Pilgrimage Route 1 leads from the Hülfensberg via Döringsdorf to Geismar, then via Rollsberg and Wilbich back to Geismar, and returns to the Hülfensberg via the Way of the Cross. Pilgrimage Route 2 follows a different sequence: from the Hülfensberg it goes via Döringsdorf, the Kolonnenweg, and Lengenfeld/Stein, then along the former railway line to Geismar; the return to the Hülfensberg is via the Way of the Cross. Both routes include Geismar on a route that also takes in the Hülfensberg, but differ in their intermediate stops.
Another option is the third stage of the Leine-Werra Nature Park Trail. It leads from the Großbartloff Waterfall via Wilbich, Geismar, Hülfensberg Monastery, the Eichsfeld Cross, and Hildebrandshausen to the Lengenfeld railbike station. The climb to the Hülfensberg follows the procession route. Check current trail conditions before setting out.
The Kreuzstieg Hülfensberg is a circular trail from Geismar, climbing to the Hülfensberg along the linden-lined procession route and returning to Geismar through the Herrntal valley. For a cycling tour, the Kanonenbahn Cycle Path offers a different type of route: it runs from the former station in Dingelstädt via Lengenfeld unterm Stein and Geismar to Frieda in the Werra Valley. The listed sequences of places can help you choose between a circular trail, a stage, and a cycling route without treating the different routes as one and the same.
Pilgrimage and the Hülfenskreuz
The Hülfensberg, an important focus of regional pilgrimage, lies near Geismar. The Hülfenskreuz, a Romanesque cross dating from the mid-12th century, is the destination for pilgrims climbing the Hülfensberg. It depicts Christ as a king crowned in gold, looking graciously, and victorious over death. At the pilgrimage church on the Hülfensberg, worshippers venerate a Romanesque cross from the 12th century; the church was built between 1360 and 1367.
Since German reunification, a pilgrimage to the Hülfensberg has taken place on October 3, German Unity Day. Concerts are also part of the cultural program there: admission is free, and donations are requested during a collection at the door. After concerts at the Hülfensberg Franciscan Monastery, coffee and cake are served in the Pilgrims’ Hall. This offering is available in connection with concerts; check whether it is available before visiting.
St. Ursula in the Village Center
St. Ursula Church is in the heart of Geismar. It was rebuilt in 1827 and received a bell tower in 1907. These two dates provide a specific historical point of reference in the village: the church was rebuilt in the early 19th century, and the tower was added later. During your stay, you can explore both the village church and the nearby pilgrimage history of the Hülfensberg.
Discover more destinations: Sonnenstein, Kleinbartloff, Mackenrode, Schönhagen, Berlingerode, Am Ohmberg, Teistungen, Wahlhausen.
See the broader travel overview: Eichsfeld.
