Project Implementation & Funding

The new "Wilhering Pilgrimage Route: Between the Danube and the Vltava" spans 132 kilometres across six stages, linking the Danube with the Vltava and passing through ten municipalities in the districts of Linz-Land and Urfahr-Umgebung (Mühlviertel region), as well as through Vyšší Brod in South Bohemia. The two monasteries of Wilhering and Vyšší Brod belong to the Cistercian Order and share a history stretching back centuries. 

Along the route, 14 churches offer opportunities for spiritual reflection, inspired by Cistercian and Benedictine theology. The trail starts at the Cistercian monastery in Wilhering and follows existing paths in several daily stages to the Cistercian monastery in Vyšší Brod, before returning to Wilhering. However, you can start your hike at any point along the route and complete the individual stages separately. 

The planned integration into the Europe-wide "Cisterscapes" project is intended to enhance the monastery network and capitalise on shared synergies. 

Key sections of the Wilheringer Weg were completed with funding from the Interreg programme between Austria and the Czech Republic – These include, for example: the opening ceremony on 19 April 2026 at Wilhering Abbey, including invitations, media coverage, catering and translation of the ceremony; project management; signposts and information boards along the pilgrimage route, as well as their design. Similarly, with the help of Interreg funding, audio messages were recorded, translated and made available to pilgrims online and via QR codes.