Mülheim God's Procession — Corpus Christi Boat Procession

A 500-Year-Old Tradition

The Mülheim God's Procession is a major religious and folk cultural event in the Cologne district of Mülheim. First documented in the 16th century, it is now the largest boat procession on the Rhine and attracts thousands of believers and tourists every year for Corpus Christi. The procession is organized by the Catholic parish of St. Clemens and Mauritius together with the St. Sebastianus Marksmen's Brotherhood of Mülheim, one of Cologne's oldest marksmen's brotherhoods.

The Boat Procession

The procession starts at 11:00 AM in the Liebfrauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). From there, it proceeds to the landing stage north of the St. Clemens Church, where the Blessed Sacrament is placed on the main processional boat, the MS RheinFantasie. The boat sails up the Rhine to the former Mülheim town limits, then back to the vicinity of St. Clemens Church, where the blessing is given over the Rhine and the land. The main boat is accompanied by smaller boats, yachts, and motorboats — hence the term "boat procession".

Marksmen's and Folk Festival on Wiener Platz

Following the procession, the traditional Marksmen's and Folk Festival of the St. Sebastianus Marksmen begins on Wiener Platz, the central square in the Cologne district of Mülheim. In 2026, the 590th/591st edition will be celebrated — the festival spans four days (Thursday to Sunday, June 4–7). On the program: Corpus Christi funfair, beer tent, live music, and the traditional festival parade.

Religious and Cultural Significance

The God's Procession is more than a religious event — it is an expression of 500 years of unbroken popular piety on the Rhine. The word Gottestracht refers to the medieval "carrying God" (Eucharistic procession); the boat format of the procession is a legacy of Mülheim's shipping history. Until the 19th century, Mülheim was an important Rhine shipyard and boatmen's community.

Cologne-Mülheim Today

Cologne-Mülheim is now a district in the northeast of Cologne on the right bank of the Rhine — multicultural, undergoing change, with a vibrant marksmen's brotherhood. The God's Procession is an identity-forming event here, making the district known beyond the borders of Cologne.