Pilgrimage 100 kilometers on foot to Cologne in four days. A group of friends set themselves this goal and marched off from Plettenberg on Maundy Thursday in a good mood and with God’s blessings. They want to arrive at Cologne Cathedral on Easter Sunday.
Plettenberg – The 18 men and women – between mid-40s and mid-60s – are a tight-knit group. “Many have known each other for ages, some from their youth,” says Uwe Trauzettel. On the evening before departure, everyone gathered to chat and load the heavy luggage, which will be transported by car.
The circle of friends does a lot together, from skiing, hiking and cycling tours to visiting the Schützenfest. “So we only do high-risk sports,” jokes Berthold Isbaner. Now the pilgrimage is added.
Born from a crazy idea
“It came about from a crazy idea,” reports Susanne Trauzettel. Shortly before Easter 2022 there was a reunion from the last skiing holiday together. “I said to Berthold Isbaner: We as Catholics live here in Plettenberg in the diaspora. We could walk to Cologne and light a candle in the cathedral.” Not only the person addressed was in favor of it.
“We were a little drunk at the time and said: we’ll do that. We didn’t think about it taking place,” remembers Berthold Isbaner. “The fact that we’re actually doing it now is definitely something special,” he says. “Being on the road for four days – the skeleton will tell us after a few days what that means. But we are already well prepared.”
“Sometimes crazy ideas are the best – that’s what you do with friends,” agrees Bernd Auwermann. “We are a great team and love a challenge. And that will be the case for many, you don’t even do that easily.”
The pilgrims have more than 100 kilometers ahead of them. Since only a minority is Catholic, Uwe Trauzettel speaks of a “non-denominational migration”. Pastor Uwe Brühl also came to the starting point on Rheinlandstraße at 7 a.m. on Maundy Thursday to send the pilgrims on their journey with a blessing. Also on board: Uwe and Susanne Trauzettel, Berthold and Britta Isbaner, Bernd and Regine Auwermann, Petra and Richard Magenheimer, Peter and Ilka Trauzettel, Silvia Höhne and Dirk Brösecke, Peter Thiemann and Kerstin Schauerte, Andrea and Heinrich Beumer as well as Olli and Lucia bohemian
The first stage – 27 kilometers – leads over the Nordhelle down to Valbert and on to the Drolshagen district of Lüdespert. From there, the Plettenbergers hike 32 kilometers to Lindlar on Good Friday and also meet part of the Jakobsweg network, which they then follow towards Cologne. The third stage on Holy Saturday then leads over 21 kilometers to Overath, on Easter Sunday the final 23 kilometers to Cologne Cathedral are to be mastered. There are also a number of inclines to overcome. “There are about 1500 meters of altitude difference on the whole route,” says Bernd Auwermann. “700 on the first day, 400 on the second, 300 on the third and 100 on the fourth day.”
physical challenge
The luggage is transported to the intermediate stations by friends who skip individual stages. On the hike itself, the participants only have backpacks with them. They are well equipped for the hike and have been training specifically for the pilgrimage since the beginning of the year, reports Uwe Trauzettel. Nevertheless: “It is a certain physical challenge.”
“We are very motivated and excited,” says Britta Isbaner. “It’s the first time we’ve done something like this.” When someone throws in the phrase “peer pressure,” she says it plays a role, too. In any case, the pilgrims are determined to see their tour through to the end. “And when we crawl across the Deutzer Bridge on all fours,” says Britta Isbaner.
Sauerlander with a big Cologne heart
“First and foremost, it’s an acid test for our community – it’s something special to do something like this together,” says Susanne Trauzettel. “Everyone wants to find out for themselves: Can I do it?” Last but not least, their love for Cologne also plays a role for her and her husband: “It sounds strange for Sauerlanders, but we have a big Cologne heart.”
Shortly before the meeting where the crazy idea came up, the pin from the cathedral pilgrimage caught her eye while visiting Cologne. It actually takes place during the Epiphany, but the pin was probably an inspiration for her plan, admits Susanne Trauzettel. That’s why every participant wears a cathedral pilgrimage pin – albeit from the previous year. “We still have to earn this year’s one.”
As if pilgrimages weren’t enough, the people of Plettenberg in the cathedral city also want to sing – along with Kölsch, of course. “Everyone got the order to learn certain Cologne songs. We then want to sing ‘I mööch zo Fooß noh Kölle jonn’ on the Deutzer Bridge”, explains Uwe Trauzettel. “It will probably be an emotional moment and will certainly take a little longer.” He is not sure whether the goal of being at the cathedral around 1 p.m. can be met. “If it turns out, we’ll attend an Easter service, otherwise we’ll go to the cathedral, where everyone can go into themselves.”
After a last overnight stay in Cologne and a small morning pint on Easter Monday, the group can then be picked up by Taxi Göhausen and driven back to Plettenberg. There everyone can recover after the hardships of the pilgrimage.
