Upland Path of Reflection

#Views Schwalefeld – Rattlar (3,5 km, 101 m elevation gain)
Time for the soul: The forest is like a cathedral. The undulating landscape offers insights and vistas of life's peaks and valleys. The view sweeps far over the landscape, revealing ever-changing perspectives. Selected Bible verses provide spiritual inspiration and encourage reflection on the traces life has left on you and the ones you want to leave in the world. Changing landscape forms support this perception. Directions: From the pilgrimage church, the path leads down to the village of Schwalefeld and past the old church hall. You cross the Aarbach stream and then hike uphill to the Franconian Trail. Enjoy the magnificent views. After climbing the hill, you will see Rattlar with its small village church, the Lichterkirche.
10 stations, parking: at the pilgrim church

#Pilgrimage is an adventure!
Being on the move, running, asking questions, discovering new things, and finding answers: Children are always on the move and constantly searching. The Upland Children's Pilgrimage presents the biblical story of Noah, his ark, and the many animals as a kind of treasure hunt. Six animals must be "rescued" and brought to the Church of Lights in Rattlar. There, the task is to find a suitable partner for each animal. Those who do everything right will experience a "media surprise."
Start: Pilgrim Church in Schwalefeld. Paper and pencils are available here for the "rescue of animals."
Destination: Church of Lights in Rattlar. The digital search for the matching animals begins on the monitor.

#Pearls of Faith Rattlar – Usseln (5,1 km, 120 m elevation gain)
God – Me – Baptism – Desert – Serenity – Love – Mystery – Night – Resurrection – God – and in between, always: silence. Bishop Lönnebo of Sweden developed this beaded collection as a guide to meditation and reflection. The entire spectrum of life and faith is contained in this collection. Stationary signs introduce each bead and its meaning, offering food for thought for the next stretch of the path. When a storm comes along that slows down life, let the beads glide through your hands and follow the thoughts in the collection. Directions: From the Church of Lights, the path leads you through Rattlar, up the valley to magnificent viewpoints. You walk past the Upland Christenbörnchen spring. According to legend, St. Sturmius baptized Christians at this spring in the 8th century. That is why baptism festivals are held here in the summer. The destination of the trail is St. Kilianskirche in Usseln, the mother church of the Upland region.
15 stations, parking: at the Lichterkirche

#Breakouts Usseln –  Willingen (6,2 km, 159 m elevation gain)
You hesitantly leave behind old hours, old days. They have become as familiar to you as old clothes, through suffering and happiness. To set out, to break free, to venture onto new paths. How tempting, yet so difficult. It takes courage to take those first steps. This section of the trail is intended to engage and guide you. It asks questions and offers clues that encourage you to perceive and recognize. Recognition is a first step towards change. Start walking and find yourself. Directions: At St. Kilianskirche, turn left and cross the main road. Sportstraße leads you to the swimming pool. Shortly before that, a small, signposted path leads up to the gas station. The trail then leads you through meadows and wooded areas and under the imposing viaduct, Willingen's landmark, to the Protestant church.
9 stations, parking: Sportstraße (Schützenhalle/Freibad)

#Enjoy with all your senses Willingen  – Schwalefeld (2,6 km, 2 m)
"The senses are like a bridge from seeing to looking, from hearing to listening, from seeing to being touched." (Peter Müller) You will perceive your surroundings in a completely new way. The grass swaying in the wind, the sun shining through the canopy, the rustling leaves, the friendly faces of the people you meet. What you see, hear, or smell will connect with what you feel, what you remember, and what touches you. Directions: At the Protestant church in Willingen The hike begins. You cross the main road and pass through a forest and dark valleys to green meadows. The pilgrim's church in Schwalefeld is both the beginning and end of the pilgrim's path. Those who wish can now walk the path paved with wood chips. The stations lead through the church, each corresponding to an element of the service. The sound of rippling water, gentle music, and the scent of fresh wood accompany you.
7 stations, parking: local area Willingen

#Coexistence of religions Usseln – Schwalefeld (2,7 km, 32 m elevation) - Interreligious Peace Trail
We live in a world of open borders. It is not uncommon for a work colleague, neighbor, or schoolmate to belong to a different culture or religion. Mixed-faith partnerships are becoming increasingly common. Religious interpenetration is progressing. The Interfaith Peace Trail brings people together. It enables Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Baha'is to find a loving, peaceful, and dignified coexistence. Nature serves as a source of strength. Selected spiritual quotations stimulate reflection and allow us to discover commonalities. Directions: This alternative trail begins at the fork where the previous section, "Aufbruche," leads from Usseln down into the village. Willingen It continues straight ahead on a panoramic path with many views of Willingen, past the Orenbergschanze ski jump to the memorial. After a bend, the path turns right from the paved road into a forest path and meets the Besinnungsweg again shortly before Schwalefeld. To the left, it goes to Willingen approx. 2 km, turn right to the pilgrimage church Schwalefeld, 0,8 km)
7 stations, parking: under the viaduct, Willingen

Sturdy shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, backpack provisions and sufficient fluids (water, tea) are recommended.

www.kirche-willingen.de/pilgerweg

Booklet "Upland Path of Reflection" with fold-out map at the Tourist Information Willingen .

The four churches along the path of reflection, with their different furnishings, are important anchor points and are worth a visit.

hiking map Willingen/Diemelsee & Trekkingpark Sauerland, scale 1:25.000, mr-kartographie, Gotha, ISBN 978-3-86636-923-8