Chapel Path Reiste - Southern Route

Chapels and wayside crosses are frequent companions along the way in the community of Reiste. They bear witness to a deep religiosity that the people here practiced for centuries. Faith and prayer have always been part of everyday life. The bells of the houses of worship marked the passage of the day, religious festivals the year. Often wayside shrines or crosses were erected out of gratitude or as a reminder of special events, and have been cherished and maintained by local families to this day. Naturally, each village has its own chapel, each dedicated to a different patron saint.
The 22.6 km (25.7 km) long Chapel Trail invites you to discover this tradition and the many beautiful chapels in the chapel villages around Reiste. Hike on secluded forest paths and uncover the stories of the small houses of worship. Along the way, impressive views will interrupt your hike, as well as the many treasures on the wayside, framed by nature. The Chapel Trail offers you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the village structure of an established Sauerland community. You get a sense of what it was like to live "in the village," in reliable structures, but also with some challenges. It was commonplace to tackle the school route "over the mountain," even in the deep snow of winter, or to walk through wind and weather to the Sunday church service in the nearest larger town, Reiste. People maintained contact between the larger and smaller villages. Footpaths were not shied away from on various occasions, at festivals and celebrations. Whether at a shooting festival, harvest festival, or the traditional Reiste market: people went to Reiste, celebrated together, and enjoyed cozy hours. These encounters still exist today. However, on such occasions, many residents today are more likely to walk back to their home village. Partly because of the beautiful nature, but also perhaps because a beer or two is easier to digest while walking...
Reiste and its chapel villages have preserved their active club life to this day. Hike the Chapel Trail and encounter a true piece of Sauerland with its traditions. Let yourself be inspired by nature between the chapels and find peace. Enter one of the chapels along the way and hold a silent prayer. Or sit on a bench along the way, enjoy nature, or admire one of the small artworks on the wayside.