We are standing in front of the Gothic pilgrimage church of Pöllauberg, which towers imposingly above the Pöllau Valley Nature Park next to the Annakircherl with its spring sanctuary. Perhaps some of us have already come along the pilgrims' path from the Pöllauer Kalvarienberg: so we pass several stone wayside shrines from the Baroque period. The last section of the Pöllau pilgrims' path embeds the "Europe Reflection Path" and shows us, among other things, several contemporary stelae, including that of the mystic Edith Stein, who perished in the Auschwitz concentration camp. We know: Women mystics repeatedly shield the foot traveller along the Pancratic Way and gently refer to the personal spirituality of the individual, as an essential element for illuminating God-relations and experiences. Contemplation, mediation and also free prayer help us along the 20 kilometres of mostly protected landscape to (re)discover the inner richness, the values, the virtues in life. Forms in personal growth, which includes the whole person in his relationship to the world and society. Reverence, tolerance, love of peace and solidarity serve as orientation.
But also the perception of the aesthetic should happen more often, we set out on stone-aged pilgrim paths, light-heartedly and easily the path winds like an inlay in the green of the hillside. Small sacred treasures invite us to pause now and then, to look into the distance, before the Romanesque-looking mountain pilgrimage church of St. Pankrazen opens up as a lively poetic place after about 10 km. The view from there into the Pannonian lowlands is beautiful, indescribable. We read the words of the mystic Simone Weil, alongside those of young contemporary writers, while we stop under the intercession tree. Later, a stop at the innkeeper's in the historic Mesnerhäusl awaits us.
We continue through the forest along the eastern foothills of the Masenberg in the direction of "Allmerschmid" and Erzherzog-Johann-Höhe. Soon after, we reach the Vorauer Brühl with its refreshingly wild waters and thus the lowest point of the trail. A little further on, the imposing Vorau Abbey opens up, with its 800 years on the hump, gnarled trees and outstanding contemporary art outside the gates, sound monument, library and world-class artefacts inside. Continue to the listed centre of the market town of Vorau. We are in Joglland and the energy of Hildegard von Bingen is palpable. We linger and look before passing the town hall, down the narrow street, approaching our destination, the Vorau Church of the Cross. Once a European pilgrimage centre in the Middle Ages, the sacred place today is particularly captivating with its niche chapels in the church graveyard, where the famous Baroque painter Cyriak Hackhofer also masterfully wielded his brush.
We end the trail with a pause and an entry in our diary: PankratiusWeg: connects 3 spiritual centres in Eastern Styria, virtues, values, orientation aids, landscape aesthetics, art culture, waves of hills, lived hospitality, exhilarating views and insights, discovery of slowness. Highest point: 1040 hm. Personal batteries recharged. Come again.