Mariahilf Pilgrimage Church (Neumarkt in der Upper Palatinate)

The beginnings of the pilgrimage to the Mariahilfberg date back to the late 17th century. At that time there was a small burial chapel modeled on the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and a Way of the Cross. A wooden Lady Chapel was built in 1687 very close to the Calvary. Her most valuable jewelry was a copy of a famous painting of the Virgin Mary by Lucas Cranach the Elder. Today's pilgrimage church was built between 1718 and 1727 as one of five baroque Marian shrines in western Upper Palatinate. The richly decorated baroque high altar by Johann Ulrich Wiest contains the famous miraculous image of the Virgin and Child, which is deeply revered to this day.

The beginnings of the Mariahilf pilgrimage church above Neumarkt date back to the late 17th century, where a small burial chapel was built on the mountain based on the model of Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It was supplemented by a Lady Chapel. The construction of today's pilgrimage church took place between 1718 and 1727, the tower was only completed much later in 1757.

A lightning strike caused a fire in 1841 that caused significant damage to the church. The interior of the church contains fine baroque art treasures, such as the stucco work by Philipp Jakob Schmuzer and Johannes Bajerna. The impressive ceiling fresco was created by Johann Babist Koller and corresponds to the high altar by Johann Ulrich Wiest.

The two-manual organ with 14 registers was only manufactured in 1977 by the Swiss company Mathis and Söhne. It is a mechanically operated slider chest instrument.

The former Carmelite monastery next to the church served the Carmelites for almost 100 years. It had to be closed in 2001 due to a staff shortage. Since 2004 it has been managed by two Polish Redemptorists.

The Catholic pilgrimage church “Maria Hilf” is located on the Mariahilfberg high above Neumarkt. The climb over the Stations of the Cross is rewarded with a beautiful view.