The Benedictine monastery in Tholey was equipped with the information boards for the European model project Starry Path/Chemin des étoiles at the start of the year. The oldest monastery on German soil was first mentioned in a document in 634 AD. As a medieval cultural monument, it is one of the most important destinations in the project area on the route from Mainz to Saarbrücken. The early Gothic abbey church contains extraordinary medieval treasures, including a large number of relics that brought many pilgrims to the site in the Middle Ages.
The design of the stained glass windows in the Abbey Church by the Afghan artist Mahbuba Maqsoodi and the world-famous artist Gerhard Richter impressively combines the spirituality of the Middle Ages with the present day. In the monastery garden, the Thai artist İskender Yediler has also created a gigantic head as a quote from the patron saint of St. Mauritius Abbey.
49°28'53.22 “N, E7°1'52.71 “E
Discover the medieval evidence in the St. Wendel region and the surrounding area!
The Benedictine Abbey of Tholey is a stage destination on the route of the pilgrimage routes Mainz - Tholey - Saarbrücken - Metz. They lead from Mainz up the Rhine to Bingen and then on via Bad Kreuznach to Odernheim to Disibodenberg Abbey. There, the route divides into a southern (via St. Wendel) and northern (Idar-Oberstein) section in line with the courses of the Glan and Nahe rivers. The next stage destination is the Maria Himmelfahrt Catholic church in Marpingen with an altar reredos dedicated to the Virgin Mary (15th century).
Further information at the Theulegium - Kulturhistorisches Museum des Schaumberger Landes zu Tholey and from the municipality of Tholey at the Tourist Information Office, Römerallee 5, 66636 Tholey, tel. 0 68 53/508-66, touristik@tholey.de, www.tholey.de (opening hours: daily except Tuesday 10 am to 5 pm).
St. James (probably 15th century) is located in the neighboring Theulegium.
The pilgrim’s stamp is available in the church, in the Theulegium and at the Tourist Information Office of the municipality of Tholey.