From Berlin Central Station to Santiago de Compostela

02.08.2022

2,971 kilometres on foot along the Way of St James

Two 'Way of St James' junction boxes were inaugurated at Berlin Central Station today. The boxes each feature a stylised yellow shell on a blue background, the symbol used throughout Europe to represent the Way of St James, as well as the distance information. According to the signs, the shortest route from Berlin Central Station to Santiago de Compostela is 2,971 kilometres.

The new signage was inaugurated this morning by Marianne Eulitz, Vice President of Jakobusgesellschaft Brandenburg-Oderregion, and her colleagues on the Board of Directors Katharina Maak and Bettina Strehlau, together with Stromnetz Berlin GmbH, represented by Andreas Wetzel, Head of Medium and Low-Voltage Networks.

There have been 'Way of St James' junction boxes in Tempelhof-Schöneberg and Steglitz-Zehlendorf for two years now. The Way of St James transformer station at the Drachenspielplatz playground in Lankwitz is a particular highlight on the pilgrimage route through Berlin.

Andreas Wetzel explains:  "We are delighted to be able to further improve the visibility of this European cultural route in Berlin. The Way of St James does not start somewhere on the French-Spanish border, but on our own doorstep."

There are around 17,200 of these boxes that are so important for power distribution in the city. In addition to junction box styling in cooperation with schools in Berlin, with around 8,000 boxes already having been decorated with colourful designs over the last few years, the ones along the Way of St James now also make a visual statement.

"We would like to thank Stromnetz Berlin GmbH for adding an official reference to the European route network at Berlin Central Station. Stamping stations and rest points for pilgrims are planned with other partner organisations in the city in the coming years", emphasises Marianne Eulitz.

For more than 35 years, the Council of Europe has been strengthening the feeling of solidarity through cultural routes connecting countries – the very first cultural route was the Way of St. James in 1987. The pilgrimage routes in Germany are increasingly well marked.

A further 11 'Way of St. James' junction boxes will follow in Berlin-Mitte, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and Tempelhof-Schöneberg in the coming weeks.

Photo: Andreas Wetzel (Stromnetz Berlin), Bettina Strehlau, Katharina Maak, Marianne Eulitz (all Jakobusgesellschaft, from left to right) are pleased with the new signpost