Stromberg place of pilgrimage

Today, the Church of the Holy Cross and the remains of Stromberg Castle form the centre of the pilgrimage town of Stromberg. Today's Church of the Holy Cross dates back to 1344 and has been a centre of attraction for Christian pilgrims ever since. The Holy Cross is at the centre of the pilgrimage.

Stromberg Castle was the only hilltop castle in the Münsterland region and is now only preserved in ruins. It was a hilltop castle in the southern Münsterland and was first mentioned in 966. According to legend, Charlemagne founded the castle - as well as the nearby Liesborn Monastery at the same time. From 1177, according to a document, Stromberg Castle was even the provincial castle of the bishops of Münster. Inside the castle complex, the Church of the Holy Cross, which still exists today and contains the precious Holy Cross of Stromberg, was consecrated in 1344. By order of the Elector and Bishop Maximilian Franz, the castle was demolished from 1780 onwards.

Today, only parts of the ring wall, a castle mansion and the Paulus Tower from the 15th century remain. A special sight is the Gothic Church of the Holy Cross, which is located at the highest point of the former castle complex. The church is still an important pilgrimage site today because of the Holy Cross: an image of grace from the period 1080-1100. It is a Byzantine crucifix. On Christ's chest is a small medallion containing a particle of the cross.

The mighty ruins of the hilltop castle are now the setting for the Oelde open-air theatre. The Church of the Holy Cross is the centre of the annual Stromberg pilgrimage and an attraction for numerous Christian pilgrims.

• Exterior tour of the church and grounds possible at any time.
• Visits to the interior of the church are only possible on request, during the procession or church services.