Six craftspeople revive the ancient Walz tradition on foot across Europe
A group of six craftspeople has been travelling across Europe for over three years as part of the traditional Walz—Tim Walz's journeyman's wandering. Their latest stop took them to Langenfeld, where they met a fellow traveller who began his own Walz just days earlier. The group follows centuries-old customs, including strict rules on travel and communication.
The six—comprising a carpenter, three joiners, and two seamstresses—had their arrival in Langenfeld formally recorded. This practice is part of the Walz tradition, where journeymen document their progress as they move from town to town. The town's mayor welcomed them with a small gift to help with supplies.
Their journey has been entirely free of modern technology. No smartphones or digital devices are allowed, keeping the experience true to its historical roots. Along the way, they have followed routes like the one mapped by Robert Grimm in 1902, which the Robert-Grimm-Gesellschaft retraced between 2019 and 2022 over 860 kilometres.
The newest member of their group, a journeyman from Düsseldorf, began his Walz only two days before joining them. Like others, he must stay outside a 50-kilometre exclusion zone around his hometown for the entire duration of his travels. This rule ensures he fully immerses himself in the experience, just as generations of craftspeople have done before him.
The group's journey continues, adhering to traditions that date back centuries. Their travels highlight the enduring nature of the Walz, where young craftspeople explore Europe on foot, relying on skill, resilience, and the support of communities along the way. The next stages of their trip will take them further across the continent, following the same principles that have guided journeymen for generations.
