In the Footsteps of Saint Bridget

What is pilgrimage?

The word pilgrim comes from the Latin peregrinus, meaning “stranger”. It describes a person who leaves the familiar to walk towards a specific goal or a holy place. Already in medieval times, people from all social classes set out on walks, and the same applies today. Pilgrimage is an old tradition that is open to everyone today, regardless of faith or background. What distinguishes it from an ordinary walk is that you slow down and make room for reflection and history.

In Sweden, there are over 40 pilgrimage routes where you can walk the same paths as people did hundreds of years ago. In Linköping, the pilgrimage route St. Birgitta Ways aims towards Vadstena. Sweden’s historically most important pilgrimage destination. The stretch goes between Vårdnäs Stiftsgård, Nya Slottet Bjärka-Säby, Linköping, and Bergs slussar, then continues along the Göta Canal via Borensberg, Ulvåsa, and Motala. It is an unpressured walk at your own pace where you get the opportunity to land in the present. Pilgrimage routes are often placed along historical landmarks where you can discover castles, medieval churches, and unique cultural heritage along the way.

In the footsteps of Saint Birgitta

Walking between Vårdnäs and Vadstena is to walk right in the middle of a living cultural heritage. What makes the route unique is the direct connection to Saint Birgitta – a woman whose life and visions have made her known worldwide. Her message of peace and simplicity feels as relevant today as in the 14th century.

Along the way, you can discover actual traces from her life and time. In Linköping, you can visit Linköping Cathedral and Linköping Castle, environments where Birgitta actually stayed and studied. Here you will find unique treasures such as one of the world’s oldest portraits of her on an altar cloth from the 14th century, as well as relics after her daughter Katarina. By following her path, you get a direct link to history while creating your own memories along the route.

St. Birgitta Ways – Part of Something Bigger

St. Birgitta Ways is the heart of a growing network that connects the Nordic countries with the rest of Europe. Here you walk on paths that, through collaboration with the Norwegian St. Olavs Way, link Trondheim in the north with historical destinations like Rome and Santiago de Compostela.

For those who wish, there is the opportunity to carry a pilgrim passport with you, a traditional document issued by the bishop of the Diocese of Linköping. In the past, the passport was a necessity for walking, while today it serves as a personal keepsake where you collect unique stamps along the way. If you have walked at least 100 kilometers and can show your stamps at the destination in Vadstena, you will also receive a pilgrim certificate. It becomes a symbol that you are part of a global community that spans thousands of years. Passports are available for purchase at Linköping Cathedral or Vårdnäs Diocesan Center.