Pilgerweg Sigwardsweg

Who was Sigward?
Sigward was the 25th Bishop of Minden. He exercised his office from 1120 to 1140 and came from high Saxon nobility. As a boy, he was handed over to the Minden church for spiritual education as a "puer oblatus". After attending the Minden and Hildesheim cathedral schools, he became provost and was elected Bishop of Minden by the convent in 1120.

Bishop Sigward was a highly educated and well-traveled man. He became a loyal follower and advisor to the Saxon duke Lothar of Supplingenburg, who was crowned emperor in Rome in 1125. Sigward's lands also included the Idensen estate in the Deister foreland south of the Steinhuder Meer. From 1129 to 1134, he built his own church and burial church there, a jewel of Romanticism with precious medieval frescoes. He loved this place and must have traveled the distance between Minden and Idensen very often.

Pilgrimage or hike in Sigward's footsteps:
With the Sigward Trail from Minden to Idensen, we would like to lead you in his footsteps and introduce you to the rich ecclesiastical history of a part of the old diocese of Minden. Two different routes, a southern and a northern route, each with five stages, connect a total of 24 pilgrim stations. Together they form a circular pilgrimage route of approx. 170 km in length. You will get to know a diverse landscape of low mountain ranges, lowlands and floodplains with lively towns and the tranquillity of sacred places.

Pilgrimage means setting out and gaining distance:

from the hectic pace of everyday life with obligations and appointments,
from habits and comforts,
from the images that others have of me,
from the image I have of myself.

The further pilgrims move away from these familiar paths, the closer they come to their inner path, their true path in life. Surprising encounters, looking back and reminiscing, becoming aware of their own faith, experiencing what really sustains them. Sigward's motto is: "Sum quod eram, ne eram quod sum." "I am who I was, but was not who I am." is also the motto of the Sigward Trail.

Stops along the Sigward Trail:

Stage 1 from Minden - PW-Hausberge 13 km
1 Minden: Cathedral, St. Marien, St. Martini, St. Simeonis, Petrikirche
2 Porta Westf.-Barkhausen: Hist. chapel
3 Wiehengebirge: Margarethenklus / Kreuzkirche

Stage 2 from PH-Hausberge - Bückeburg 15 km
4 Porta Kanzel (former Antoniuskapelle), St. Walburga
5 Porta Westf.-Nammen: St. Laurentius Chapel
6 Kleinenbremen: Church
7 Bückeburg: town church, castle chapel, Jetenburg church

Stage 3 from Bückeburg - Obernkirchen 11 km
8 Obernkirchen: abbey, collegiate church of St. Marien

Stage 4 from Obernkirchen - Bad Nenndorf 25 km
9 Apelern: two-aisled hall church
10 Rodenberg: St. Jacobi church, St. Johannes church
11 Bad Nenndorf: Godehardi church

Stage 5 from Bad Nenndorf - Idensen 15 km
12 Idensen: Sigwards church

Stage 6 from Idensen - Loccum 21 km
13 Bergkirchen: Katharinenkirche
14 Bad Rehburg: Friederikenkapelle
15 Luccaburg
16 Loccum: Kloster

Stage 7 from Loccum - Stolzenau 17 km
17 Heimsen: Kirche
18 Schlüsselburg: Saalkirche
- Stolzenau

Stage 7a from Loccum - Großenheerse 24 km

Stage 8 from Stolzenau - Großenheerse 24 km
19 Schinna: Kloster
20 Nendorf: Klosterkirche
21 Buchholz: Dorfkirche
- Großenheerse

Stage 9 from Großenheerse - Petershagen 15 km
22 Raddestorf: Lutherkirche
23 Ovenstädt: Romanesque Apostelkirche
24 Petershagen: St. Petrikirche

Stage 10 from Petershagen - Minden 15 km
1 Minden: Cathedral, St. Marien, St. Martini, St. Simeonis, Petrikirche

Walking the Sigwardweg is at your own risk. A disclaimer applies to any damage that may occur. This disclaimer applies in particular to the use of forest and woodland paths.

Safety information:

• Throughout the entire tour, please note that the paths are used at your own risk
• No guarantee is given for the usability of the paths
• In the towns/places, increased attention is generally required
• On the tour, you must expect to encounter danger spots, such as bollards, barriers and unsecured crossings