Pilgrimages to France and Germany

A pilgrimage to France offers a rich encounter with the Christian faith as it developed in the Latin West from late antiquity through the medieval period and into the modern age. France preserves some of the most influential pilgrimage routes, shrines, and monastic centres in Europe. Sites such as Tours, associated with St Martin of Tours, and Arles, an important early Christian centre, testify to the spread of Christianity in Roman Gaul and the emergence of a deeply rooted Christian culture.

One of the most significant destinations is Mont-Saint-Michel, a dramatic monastic sanctuary dedicated to St Michael the Archangel and revered across the world. Pilgrims also visit Chartres, whose cathedral stands as a masterpiece of medieval architecture and devotion to the Virgin Mary. These places, together with ancient abbeys such as Cluny Abbey, reflect the depth and continuity of Christian worship, monastic reform, and pilgrimage life in France.

A pilgrimage to Germany reveals a Christian landscape shaped by missionary activity, imperial patronage, and later theological transformation. From the early medieval period, German lands played a crucial role in the Christianisation of central Europe, with saints, bishops, and monasteries serving as centres of faith and learning. Cities such as Cologne preserve some of the most important relics and churches in the region, including the great cathedral built to house the relics of the Magi, Frankfurt, whose cathedral protects the relics of Saints Cosmas and Damian, and Altötting, one of Germany’s most significant Marian shrines.

Germany also holds sites of particular importance to the history of the Reformation. Wittenberg is closely associated with Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation, while Erfurt preserves important places connected to Luther’s early monastic life and theological formation. Historic monasteries, Romanesque churches, and pilgrimage routes throughout Bavaria and the Rhineland further illustrate the diverse expressions of Christianity that developed within German lands.

Together, France and Germany offer pilgrims a comprehensive view of Western Christian history, from the apostolic and patristic roots of the Church to medieval monasticism and the profound changes of the early modern period. Pilgrimage in these countries allows visitors to encounter living history expressed through art, architecture, and culture.

Each of our pilgrimage packages is custom-tailored to fit your group's needs. If you are interested in organising a pilgrimage to Germany or France, please contact us to discuss details.

Photos from previous pilgrimages