Few other pilgrimage sites in the world can boast as rich a history as Mariazell. This small town in Austria is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Europe, attracting thousands of believers each year to pay homage to Our Lady of Mariazell, known as the Magna Mater Austriae.
Pilgrimages to Mariazell are popular with a variety of groups, countries, and motivations. The sanctuary is renowned for miracles and graces attributed to the intercession of the Virgin Mary. The faithful come to seek help for spiritual and physical needs.
Mariazell is also home to numerous festivals, including religious and cultural events, which attract tourists and pilgrims, offering the opportunity to participate in unique traditions and ceremonies.
For centuries, this Alpine town has been a pilgrimage site, drawing believers particularly from German-speaking areas, but also from Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, and Slovenia. Geographic proximity makes the sanctuary easily accessible to residents of these countries. As the most important pilgrimage center in Austria, Mariazell primarily hosts Austrians. Pilgrimages in this country are organized by both parishes and individuals.
Praying in the sanctuary, the silence, the intimacy of the place and the beauty of the surrounding nature attract travelers who want to escape from everyday worries. Many groups (both religious and tourist) come to Mariazell with guides. Visits to this charming Alpine town combine prayer with discovering the culture, history and picturesque nature of this region.
The significance of the place is unique for many reasons, not only religious, but also cultural and historical.
According to records, Mariazell was founded in the Middle Ages, on December 21, 1157, when the monk Magnus came to these areas with a figure of the Virgin Mary, which became an object of worship. This event gave rise to the development of the sanctuary.
Around 1200, construction of a Romanesque chapel began, and the first written mention of "Zell" dates back to 1243.
The granting of a plenary indulgence by Pope Boniface IX in 1399 was of great importance to Mariazell, which led to the cultivation of penitential rites and processions and, consequently, to an increase in the pilgrimage movement.
Around 1400, there were already over twenty stalls in Mariazell offering the sale of votive offerings, and about a hundred years later the town was known throughout the world as a place of pilgrimage.
Even then, pilgrims from the regions of present-day Bavaria, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Croatia, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, but above all Austria and Hungary, actively sought help from the Mother of Mercy in Mariazell.
In 1907, Pope Pius X gave the church in Mariazell the title of basilica, which emphasized its importance as a place of worship.
Mariazell flourished particularly after the end of the Counter-Reformation as a national sanctuary of the Habsburg family. The aristocracy and the bourgeoisie, and later also the peasants, made pilgrimages to Mariazell.
Since the Gothic church could no longer accommodate the increasing number of pilgrims, it was decided to expand it. The basilica in Mariazell is an example of beautiful Baroque architecture with Gothic elements. Its richly decorated interior and impressive façade attract not only pilgrims, but also lovers of art and architecture.
In 1948, due to its importance as an ecclesiastical and cultural centre recognised far beyond Austria's borders, Mariazell was granted city rights.
The most important events in the modern history of Mariazell were: the visit of Pope John Paul II in 2004, as well as the celebrations of the 850th anniversary of the foundation of the sanctuary, which took place in 2007 and attracted thousands of believers from all over the world.
The Mariazell Shrine is not only an important place of religious worship, but also a significant point on the cultural and historical map of Europe. Its significance extends far beyond Austria's borders, influencing the spiritual and cultural life of many nations. Pilgrimages to Mariazell are an expression not only of piety, but also of the search for community and peace in the heart of Europe. Although Mariazell is home to only 2,000 people, it welcomes up to a million pilgrims and tourists every year. As a city with a rich religious and cultural history, it is considered a unique Austrian treasure.
If you are going to Mariazell this autumn, we encourage you to read the article in which we describe the most picturesque walking routes and trails.
You can find it here.
