PilgrimstaysThe Basilica of the Birth of the Virgin Mary in Mariazell, set in the Styrian Alps at 868 metres, is the national shrine of Austria and one of the most important Marian pilgrimage sites in Central Europe. Pilgrims from Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic have been coming here since the 12th century. The name means Mary's cell — a reference to the small cell built by a Benedictine monk named Magnus in 1157, who is said to have carved the small linden-wood statue of Our Lady that is still venerated above the high altar. The baroque basilica, designed by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and consecrated in 1744, incorporates the original medieval chapel within its fabric. The silver and gold altar surrounding the 12th-century Madonna is one of the finest examples of Austrian Baroque metalwork. The pilgrimage tradition has been continuous for over 850 years. Pope John Paul II visited Mariazell in 1983 and gave the shrine his Golden Rose. Pope Benedict XVI came in 2007 for the 850th anniversary. The Hungarian connection is particularly strong: Hungarian pilgrims have been walking to Mariazell for centuries, including the royal families of the House of Habsburg. The most famous walk to Mariazell is the 85 km Wiener Wallfahrt from Vienna — walked each year by thousands of pilgrims.
Austria's national shrine and the spiritual heart of Central European Catholicism
The 12th-century linden-wood Madonna carved by the monk Magnus is still venerated above the altar Pilgrims from seven Central European nations have been coming here for over 850 years
Pope John Paul II gave the shrine his Golden Rose during his 1983 visit The 85 km walking pilgrimage from Vienna (Wiener Wallfahrt) is walked each year by thousands
Adjacent to the basilica Contains ex-votos from Austrian, Hungarian, and Bohemian royal families — the Habsburgs in particular regarded Mariazell as their family shrine. Silver hearts, gold plaques, royal vestments, and military decorations tell the story of Central European Catholic history from the 14th century to the present.
a landscape of extraordinary beauty that has drawn pilgrims for eight centuries. The combination of alpine air, mountain silence, and Marian devotion is uniquely Austrian.
the arrival is its culmination.
East end of the main nave The High Altar of the main basilica, with its silver baldachin and frescoes, is the formal liturgical centre. The Gnadenaltar (with the Madonna) is the devotional heart, and the main High Altar the ceremonial one. Together they define the dual function of a great pilgrimage basilica: intimate prayer and solemn liturgy.
A monk named Magnus walked to a mountain valley in Styria in 1157, set a small carved Madonna on a rock, prayed, and went to sleep. When he woke, the cell he had built had become immovable, and he understood he was meant to stay. From that cell a basilica grew. From that basilica a national shrine grew. From that national shrine, the pilgrimage traditions of seven nations grew. All of it from one monk, one carved Madonna, and one immovable cell.
“When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought: Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”
Read in full on Bible Gateway →The Basilica of the Birth of the Virgin Mary in Mariazell, set in the Styrian Alps at 868 metres, is the national shrine of Austria and one of the most important Marian pilgrimage sites in Central Europe. Pilgrims from Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have been coming here since the 12th century. The name means Mary’s cell — a reference to the small cell built by a Benedictine monk named Magnus in 1157, who is said to have carved the small linden-wood statue of Our Lady that is still venerated above the high altar.
The baroque basilica, designed by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and consecrated in 1744, incorporates the original medieval chapel within its fabric. The silver and gold altar surrounding the 12th-century Madonna is one of the finest examples of Austrian Baroque metalwork. The pilgrimage tradition has been continuous for over 850 years. Pope John Paul II visited Mariazell in 1983 and gave the shrine his Golden Rose. Pope Benedict XVI came in 2007 for the 850th anniversary.
The Hungarian connection is particularly strong: Hungarian pilgrims have been walking to Mariazell for centuries, including the royal families of the House of Habsburg. The most famous walk to Mariazell is the 85 km Wiener Wallfahrt from Vienna — walked each year by thousands of pilgrims.
