In the footsteps of Walburga

The Walburgiskerk is hosting the exhibition ‘In the Footsteps of Walburga’. The exhibition is dedicated to Walburga, the woman after whom the church is named, and takes visitors on a journey through her remarkable life story. The exhibition also highlights the spread of her veneration across Europe and the centuries-old bond between Walburga and Zutphen.

Who was Walburga?
Walburga (711–779) was an English nun who travelled to the European mainland in the eighth century to spread Christianity as a missionary. Following the death of her brother, she became abbess of the convent in Heidenheim. Walburga was a strong woman and highly
highly regarded during her life in and around Heidenheim. After her death, various miracles were attributed to her, leading her to become a revered saint of the early Middle Ages. Her relics were later transferred to Eichstätt, which developed into an important place of pilgrimage.

The connection with Zutphen
The special connection between Walburga and Zutphen dates back to 1105. Following a major fire, Bishop Burchard of Utrecht had the rebuilt church dedicated to Saint Walburga and encouraged her veneration. To this day, that history lives on in the
name of the Walburgiskerk , and the name Walburga is still very common in Zutphen.

About the exhibition
‘In the Footsteps of Walburga’ takes visitors through the key moments of her life. Special artefacts, including a monstrance, sceptre, banner and ring, bring her history and veneration to life. There is also a map showing the distribution of Walburga churches across Europe.

The exhibition has an interactive format. Through audio clips, visitors discover more about Walburga, and the exhibition poses a contemporary question: ‘Who or what do we venerate today?’