Marienthal: Pilgrimage Church and Trails through the Elsterbach Valley

Marienthal is a district of Geisenheim and a place of pilgrimage, shaped by its Franciscan monastery and pilgrimage church. Vineyards and forests frame the area, along with the Way of the Cross and hiking trails in the Elsterbach Valley. Cultural history and outdoor activities give the area a range of attractions to consider when planning your trip.

Pilgrimage Church, Art and History

The history of the pilgrimage church goes back to a chapel built in 1313 and extended into a church in 1326. On 8 September 1330, Archbishop Balduin of Trier consecrated it. The main portal features a gable, a cross finial and a tympanum from the early 14th century. The miraculous image of Marienthal is a small Vesperbild: it shows Mary after the Deposition from the Cross, with her dead son on her lap, and is considered one of the earliest Vesperbild sculptures.

The spacious Way of the Cross was built behind the church and the pilgrims’ square; it was inaugurated on 8 September 1859. A Crucifixion group in Marienthal features larger-than-life figures of Christ on the cross, as well as Mary and John. The medieval artwork probably dates from the 15th or 16th century. Next to the pilgrims’ square is the Franciscan garden, laid out in 1915 and redesigned in 2012. The Elsterbach flows through the monastery grounds, offering opportunities for contemplation and meditation.

Hiking Trails of Various Lengths

The monastery and pilgrimage church are situated on the sunny southern slope of the Taunus. Various hiking trails lead to Marienthal from Geisenheim and Rüdesheim; each takes about an hour on foot. Further circular and hiking trails run around Geisenheim and the districts of Johannisberg, Marienthal and Stephanshausen, through vineyards, forests and meadows, and along the Rhine.

Two different route lengths are described for the Mill Hiking Trail: The approximately 12-kilometre tour runs from Winkel via Johannisberg to Marienthal Monastery and passes eight mills that are still standing today. A section of more than 5.5 kilometres follows the Elsterbach from the monastery to a point near its mouth at the Rhine. The Monk’s Path is five kilometres long and starts at the Catholic community centre in Marienthal. The routes from Geisenheim and Rüdesheim each take about an hour on foot; the other tours vary in length.

The historic Monk’s Path is also associated with the region: it connected the monasteries of Johannisberg and Eibingen via the Geisenheim district and was mentioned in a document in 1356 as a path used by monks.

Marienthal and the Geisenheim Travel Destination

Marienthal, a district of Geisenheim, is three kilometres from the town in the valley, between vineyards and forests. The area is best known for the pilgrimage monastery of the same name, which attracts many pilgrims each year.

Geisenheim’s town in the valley lies directly on the Rhine and is surrounded by vineyards. Its notable cultural landmarks include the Rheingau Cathedral, the parish church of the Holy Cross: a three-aisled hall church built around 1500 on the foundations of a Romanesque church. Schloss Johannisberg, in Geisenheim’s Johannisberg district, also has its own wine and monastic history. The Benedictine monastery was founded in 1100, and the palace was built in 1716; Johannisberg is regarded as the world’s first Riesling estate.

Plan Your Journey and Discover More Destinations

Bus route 185 runs regularly from Geisenheim station to Marienthal, stopping at Rosengärtchen. The stop is about one kilometre from the monastery. Check current RMV connections before travelling. For hikes, you can compare the approximate one-hour walking time from Geisenheim or Rüdesheim with the stated lengths of the circular routes.

Discover more destinations: Stephanshausen, Johannisberg.

Back to the main travel overview: Geisenheim.