Historic Wayside Cross Bad Wilsnack

The 118 km long pilgrimage route from Berlin - Wilsnack is attractive to pilgrims and nature lovers in all seasons. Wilsnack was an important place of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages. From 1383 to 1552, pilgrims from all over Europe flocked to the blood hosts that were kept in the Wilsnack Church of the Blood of Miracles. In 2006, the pilgrimage route was revived based on historical routes.

The wayside cross near the Wilsnack train station was erected on August 23, 2008 on the occasion of the 5th day of pilgrimage. Wayside crosses like this replica were erected near and far in the Middle Ages to help pilgrims find their way and to mark the way to Wilsnack. The wayside cross made of Gotland sandstone by the Lübeck citizen Johann von der Heide, who had this cross erected for ten marks at the junction of the road to Wilsnack and Wismar, has been preserved. The crosses bore inscriptions like to den wilsenack - orate ibi pro nobis. The Lübeck Wayside Cross is a ring or wheel cross common in medieval Ireland, where it served as a memorial to historical events.

The inscription "Anno 1396" that can be seen on the longitudinal beam of the cross refers to an older original whose copy was reconstructed and placed here. The sacred small monuments designed in this form are also called "Celtic High Cross", a typical feature of this is the circle or wreath that spans the crossing of the longitudinal and transverse beams.