About this tour
Day 1, September 08th, 2025 (Monday) Departure
- Depart US for your overnight flight to Germany. Meals will be served on board the fl
Day 2, September 9th, 2025 (Tuesday): Frankfurt arrival – Bad Kreuznach
- Arrival at Frankfurt Airport and transfer to Bad Kreuznach (app. 1h drive)
- The first days are intentionally planned to help participants experience the greening region that so influenced St. Hildegard. We will engage physically in our environment and allow the Land of Hildegard, the river country, rolling hills and forests, and the special places where Hildegard lived to deeply nourish us. This is part of the path of joy and awe and of the outward journey.
- Enjoy lunch on your own at the hotel, or nearby restaurant
- We invite you to have a slow relaxing arrival with a walk in the beautiful park adjoining the hotel,
- Enjoy dinner at the hotel as a group
- Participate in retreat welcome and group introductions.
- After dinner together at the hotel, Michael M. Conti will host a screening of his film “The Unruly Mystic: Saint Hildegard” and Q&A session
- Overnight in Bad Kreuznach (D)
Attention: Schedule on this day is subject to change depending on flight details
Day 3, September 10th, 2025 (Wednesday): Bad Kreuznach – Bingen am Rhein – Bad Kreuznach
- Breakfast at the hotel
- We invite you to ease into our Land of Hildegard experience with a relaxing morning in the town of Bad Kreuznach. Bad Kreuznach is noted for having several public spa pool bathhouses, lovely parks and walking trails along the river Nahe, a remarkable Roman archeological museum (Museum Römerhalle), and a variety of nice restaurants and shops along the river and in the quaint downtown section (time to explore on your own).
- Walk as a group on a short tour of the historic downtown area of Bad Kreuznach.
- Enjoy lunch with the group at a historic restaurant..
- After Lunch, transfer to Bingen am Rhein, and go across the river to Rüdesheim am Rhein by ferry for a river cruise.
- Downstream from Bingen am Rhein, as the Rhine River flows through the scenic Rhine Gorge, you’ll encounter a breathtaking array of natural beauty, historic landmarks, and charming towns.
- Return to Bad Kreuznach
- Dinner together at the hotel
- We will come together after dinner for a Hildegard discussion with Dr. Annette Esser, the author and scholar who instigated the Hildegard Way, Dr Esser will talk about her work designing the Hildegard Way trail and writing the texts of the film and book “Hildegard Speaks”.
- Overnight in Bad Kreuznach (B,D)
Day 4: September 11th, 2025 (Thursday): Bad Kreuznach – Idar Oberstein – Herrstein – Niederhosenbach – Bad Kreuznach
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Today we will travel by coach to the start of the Hildegard Way in Idar Oberstein, and have a guided tour of the Gem Museum. Many of the precious stones that Hildegard speaks of in the “Heavenly Jerusalem” are mined in the mountainous Idar Oberstein area. We will walk up to the famous “Church in the Rock” above Idar Oberstein, then continue up the mountain path to the historic fortress and castle at the top.
- Lunch will be in Idar Oberstein at a famous local restaurant (3-course menu incl. water)
- Travel by coach to the picturesque village of Herrstein and visit the Schlosskirche.
- Scivias Institute Guide will accompany.
- Walk from the medieval village of Herrstein through the forest and fields to Niederhosenbach.
- Return to Bad Kreuznach
- Dinner at the hotel
- Overnight in Bad Kreuznach (B,L,D)
Attention: Today will be a walking day, so wear comfortable walking shoes, water, and appropriate weather gear.
Day 5, September 12th, 2025 (Friday): Bad Kreuznach – Disibodenberg – Bad Kreuznach
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Transfer to Disibodenberg.
- Today we visit one of the most significant locations of Hildegard’s Homeland, the sacred site of Disibodenberg, at the top of the hill next to the rivers Glan and Nahe. Although the Disibodenberg today is a ruin, the sacred atmosphere of this forested hilltop is unmistakable and will take you under its spell. It is indeed a “thin veil” place, even before the construction of the Benedictine monastery in the early 10th century, it had already been a sacred Roman and Celtic site. It is here where Hildegard spent most of the first half of her life (1112 – 1147), together with her relative and mentor, Jutta.
- Scivias Institute Guide accompanies
- Enjoy box lunch while on the grounds of Disibodenberg
- Archaeology Museum at Disibodenberg
- Return to Bad Kreuznach
- Free time in afternoon pool time, or spa treatments in Bad Kreuznach
- Dinner that night will be on your own with options at one of the many restaurant options in Bad Kreuznach
- Overnight in Bad Kreuznach (B,L)
Attention: Today will be a walking day, so wear comfortable walking shoes, water, and appropriate weather gear.
Day 6, September 13th, 2025 (Saturday): Bad Kreuznach – Sponheim – Bad Sobernheim– Bad Kreuznach
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Coach to Sponheim
- We will walk through the forest to Burg Sponheim, see the impressive view from the top of the tower, walk the trail over the hill into the town, and explore the ancient Romanesque Sponheim church, one of the only churches still remaining from Hildegard’s lifetime.
- Scivias Institute Guide
- Lunch together at a local restaurant in Bad Sobernheim (not included)
- Music and Movement workshop inside the church of Sponheim (or another location)
- Return to Bad Kreuznach
- Dinner together at hotel
- Overnight in Bad Kreuznach
Attention: Today will be a walking day, so wear comfortable walking shoes, water, and appropriate weather gear.
Day 7, September 14th, 2025 (Sunday): Bad Kreuznach – Disibodenberg – Bad Kreuznach
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Travel by coach to Disibodenberg
- As part of Day of the Open Monument, there will be a special “Hofmarkt” at Disibodenberg that includes special Hildegard lectures, music, an outdoor market with Hildegard items, guided tours of the Disibodenberg grounds, and food items. We will spend the morning and part of the afternoon participating with the local Hildegard community.
- Lunch at Disibodenberg (not included)
- Return to Bad Kreuznach.
- Optional time for pool time, shopping in Bad Kreuznach, or a walk in town.
- Dinner together at the hotel.
- Overnight in Bad Kreuznach.
Attention: Today will be a walking day, so wear comfortable walking shoes, water, and appropriate weather gear.
Day 8, September 15th, 2025 (Monday): Bad Kreuznach – Dhaun – Monzingen – Rupertsberg – Bad Kreuznach
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Today we will travel by coach to visit St Johannisberg church in Hochstetten-Dhaun, then a beautiful Hildegard inspired garden in Dhaun
- Transfer to Vineyard in Monzingen
- Visit the award-winning vineyard Weingut Weber for an informal wine tasting and lunch with 4th generation winemaker Laura Weber.
- Transfer to Rupertsberg (30 minutes)
- In the afternoon we will visit the Rupertsberg Ruins and cellars. Although the church building constructed by Hildegard no longer exists, we will be allowed to go down the stairs into the large cellar area and crypt, which is still in use for concerts and special events. In 1147 at age 53 Hildegard left the Disibodenberg and founded the first of her own abbeys, the Rupertsberg Monastery, built above the chapel of Saint Rupertus. Hildegard lived and worked at the Rupertsberg Abbey until her death in 1179 at the age of 82.
- Return to Bad Kreuznach
- Dinner together at the hotel
- Overnight in Bad Kreuznach (B,L,D)
Attention: Today will be a walking day, so wear comfortable walking shoes, water, and appropriate weather gear.
Day 9, September 16th, 2025 (Tuesday): Bad Kreuznach – Bingerbruck Forest Walk – Bad Kreuznach
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Transfer to St. Jakobus Church in Stromberg.
- Today is a long pilgrimage walking day, and we will hike in the morning through an “enchanted” forest with cleverly carved spirits, gnomes, and woodland creatures hidden within the trees and along the path. This will be the longest walk of the retreat and your efforts will be rewarded with a lovely view of the Rhine from the trail, with its beautiful scenic vistas and busy river traffic.
- Enjoy lunch together along the trail at one of the local Jägerhauses. (not included)
- Scivias Institute Guide
- Walk through Bingen Forest to Rupertsburg. Transport will pick up.
- Return to Bad Kreuznach
- Dinner on your own in Bad Kreuznach
- Overnight in Bad Kreuznach (B,L)
Day 10, September 17th, 2025 (Wednesday): Saint Hildegard Feast Day – Rüdesheim am Rhein – Bad Kreuznach
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Transfer to Rüdesheim am Rhein.
- Today is the Feast Day of Saint Hildegard, with Hildegard groups throughout Germany and from around the world gathering together with Vatican officials to honor her at the pilgrimage church. The ultimate highlight of the retreat, rain-or-shine, this event of remembrance and pageantry is unforgettable.
- An outdoor morning mass will be held in German at the Wallfahrtskirche St. Hildegard, followed by a community lunch
- The ornate Hildegard reliquary is then carefully brought outside and taken in procession through the village streets.
- In the afternoon we will spend time at Abbey St. Hildegard, visiting the grounds, the gift shop and having wine and treats in the café.
- Return to Bad Kreuznach
- In the evening we will gather for our final dinner together to discuss and reflect upon our experiences of the past 9 days.
- Dinner at the hotel
- Overnight in Bad Kreuznach (B,L,D)
Day 11, September 18th, 2025 (Thursday): Bad Kreuznach – Frankfurt departure
- Breakfast at the hotel and check-out
- Transfer to Frankfurt
- Arrive at the Frankfurt Airport three hours prior to departure! (B)
Attention: The schedule on this day is subject to change depending on flight details.
