Jakobsweg Via Scandinavica, Niedersachsen
The place
Catholic pilgrimage routes
Why go
Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim (UNESCO candidate, Scandinavia's only Gothic cathedral). The Olav Way through Norway. Malmö and the Öresund Bridge. The Hanseatic cities of Flensburg and Hamburg.
A bit of history
Trondheim (Nidaros) was one of northern Europe's great pilgrimage destinations in the Middle Ages: the cathedral holds the relics of Saint Olav (King Olav II, martyred in 1030). Thousands of Scandinavian pilgrims traveled this route to Santiago, a path interrupted by the Reformation and revived since the 1990s.
Getting there
Trondheim: airport (Oslo 1h). Hamburg: international hub. Easy train connections.
Recommended gear
Light hiking shoes for flat terrain. Rain gear (Scandinavia: frequent rainfall). Pilgrim credential.
Best season
May to October. The Norwegian section from May onward; long, bright summer days.