Basilica of Mariazell (Mariazell)

The Basilica of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Mariazell is the spiritual heart of Austria and one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Central Europe. According to legend, a monk named Magnus founded a chapel in 1157 when he prayed to the Virgin Mary and a rock split open before him. The current Baroque form of the church dates back to the 17th century, when it was rebuilt by Domenico Sciassia. The dominant feature is the central chapel with a Gothic wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, surrounded by rich stucco decoration and frescoes.

The pilgrimage church impresses with its size – the main nave with side chapels can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers. In addition to the famous statue, visitors can admire the richly decorated main altar, the pulpit by Balthasar Prandtstätter, and a Gothic cross from the 13th century. The interior is illuminated by a monumental crystal chandelier from 1907. The basilica is the destination of annual pilgrimages from Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia, hence Czech inscriptions and prayers can be found here.

For Czech pilgrims, Mariazell is easily accessible by car (approx. 1.5 hours from České Budějovice via the Dolní Dvořiště border crossing). The surroundings offer beautiful alpine nature – we recommend a trip up the Bürgeralpe by cable car or a walk around Lake Erlaufsee. The town has restaurants with Czech-speaking staff and accommodation options in the pilgrimage house. The basilica is open daily, entry free.