#shrinesofeurope

In Catholic tradition, May has for centuries been a month especially devoted to the veneration of the Virgin Mary. It is during May that the Litany of Loreto is recited in churches, roadside chapels dedicated to Mary are adorned with fresh flowers, special Marian services are held, and pilgrimages to Marian shrines increase.

Since yesterday, the Catholic Church has been in mourning. On April 21, 2025, Pope Francis died. Today, we recall the pilgrimages to the cities of the Shrines of Europe that the Holy Father made during his pontificate.

Dear Friends, On the occasion of Easter, we wish you joy, peace and many smiles during the first days of spring. May this special time be the beginning of new energy, inspiration and positive plans - also those related to travel!

March was an exceptionally busy month for the partners of the Shrines of Europe Association. A lot was happening because we wanted to be present at the most important industry events in the field of tourism organized this month in Portugal. And you know what? We did it! We invite you to read the report from participation in the 12th edition of the International Workshop on Religious Tourism in Fatima and in the Better Tourism Lisbon tourism fair in the capital of Portugal.

According to a well-known Polish saying, love begins nowhere else but on a plate. "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach," say the Poles, and we fully agree with this statement! Today we present the must-haves on the menus of our cities and regions. Flagship dishes that you should try when visiting one of the Shrines of Europe cities. Delicacies that have their fans far beyond the borders of our countries. Enjoy your meal!

Dear Friends, On the occasion of the upcoming Christmas, the mayors of the Shrines of Europe cities send you a special message. We invite you to listen to the wishes in all Shrines of Europe languages.

This winter, the Municipal Tourist Information Centre of Częstochowa is taking part in our "Ask me about the Shrines of Europe" campaign so visit us there! Get all the information about the association, help yourself to sweets or take a small gift from Shrines of Europe. Do not hesitate, just come and visit us in Częstochowa!

November has arrived. One of those less pleasant months of the year – the days are getting shorter, it is cold and dark. November days will certainly brighten up our evenings spent at home, under a blanket, with a cup of warm cocoa, brightened by the glow of candles. Exactly – candles. Where did the tradition of burning them actually come from? Have you ever wondered about it?

World Tourism Day, celebrated every year on 27 September, is an important holiday that celebrates the role of tourism in our lives, its impact on the economy, culture, sustainable development and international relations. This year's theme of the celebrations, "Tourism and Peace", fits perfectly with the mission of the Shrines of Europe Association.

Altötting will soon host the traditional Monastery Market. For the twentieth time, numerous monastic communities, monasteries and abbeys from Germany and abroad will present their traditional products and products from the monastery workshops, pantries, vineyards and breweries on the main town square, Kapellplatz, next to the Chapel of Grace. Of course, Altötting will also have a Shrines of Europe stand!

The second edition of the Shrines of Europe festival, which took place from June 19 to 23 in Ourem in Portugal, is already behind us. These few days were a real celebration of music, singing and dancing and the traditions of the Shrines of Europe, as well as a time of many wonderful conversations and discussions. See our report from this unique event.

We offer you our new series, the first part of which is now available on the "Shrines of Europe" Facebook profile. "7 out of 7" is a search for places and attractions that can be seen in each of our 7 cities. Despite different languages, traditions and histories, we have a lot in common. We will be happy to show it to you.

It’s Easter which means a time for joy, spending with family and friends. In this unique time of year we wish you hope and beauty of springtime that gives the promise of brighter days. Let this Easter bring a basketful of joy for all of you! Happy Easter from the Shrines of Europe

February is ending really well for Shrines of Europe! On February 22-23, 2024, the city of Ourem/Fatima (Portugal) hosted the 20th International Congress on Religious and Sustainable Tourism, which took place in parallel with the 11th International Workshop on Religious Tourism (IWRT). We were also present there as a group and presented ourselves at our Shrines of Europe stand.

Valentine's Day is approaching. This is a special day of the year when we exchange small gifts, cards with hearts, order flowers and spend time together with our other halves. It is a holiday that some people love and others hate. For both, we have several attractions to see in the unique cities of Shrines of Europe. You can visit these places by yourself or with your loved ones.

Every year Shrines of Europe emphasize the uniqueness of the holiday season. Christmas fairs are organized and interesting cultural and entertainment events are presented for residents, pilgrims and tourists in all the sanctuary towns. Today we want to tell you about some of them. Because it's always worth being with Shrines of Europe, but especially now - during this special Christmas time.

We are proud to announce that the idea of our cooperation between cities united in the Shrines of Europe association has been noticed and described in the leading Portuguese trade magazine devoted to, among others, travel and lifestyle "Volta ao Mundo".

Representatives of the tourism industry will be staying in Rimini from October 11 to 13, taking part in the TTG Travel Experience 2023 fair - the most important event of this type in Italy. Of course, our association - Shrines of Europe - could not be missing among the exhibitors.

Autumn can be really beautiful, turning golden and enchanting with the colors of the leaves. This is the time of year favorable for outdoor activities: walking, hiking and hiking. Maybe it's worth combining physical recreation with soul renewal and going on a pilgrimage! And where? For example, to Mariazell!

Some of us associate Switzerland mainly with winter sports. This is of course not a mistake. Ski enthusiasts dream of spending a few winter days in one of the Swiss ski resorts. But for now, it's still hot outside so we have to wait for snow a while... However, don’t put off your trip to Switzerland! If you choose this direction in summer, we highly recommend Einsiedeln, which will definitely not disappoint you.

Young people from all over the world will meet this year in Lisbon to experience World Youth Day together. The participants of the meeting will also have the opportunity to visit Fatima, where the Holy Father will arrive on August 5.

It would be a really great idea to go to one of the Shrines of Europe cities on two wheels...

Is it possible to explore all 7 Shrines of Europe cities in one weekend? The distances on the map say: Nope… Not unless you have seven-league boots. But that's only in fairy tales...

On May 27, the opening of the photography exhibition "Shrines of Europe - the path of culture and spirituality" took place.

Welcome to the new website of the Shrines of Europe Association, where you will find information about the cities - sanctuaries of Europe - the most important centers of Marian worship on the Old Continent.