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Austria
Styria
Hochsteiermark
Bezirk Bruck-Mürzzuschlag
Mariazell

Mariazell Basilica (Pilgrimage Church)

Highlight • Religious Site

Mariazell Basilica (Pilgrimage Church)

Recommended by 254 cyclists out of 260

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    Top cycling routes to Mariazell Basilica (Pilgrimage Church)

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    1. Traisental Cycle Path

    107km

    07:02

    1,180m

    490m

    Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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    Expert

    Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Expert

    Expert bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

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    Tips

    July 23, 2025

    Mariazell is one of Europe's most important pilgrimage sites, with a history spanning over 850 years, attracting pilgrims from all over Central Europe since the Middle Ages – including numerous cyclists on spiritual or historical routes. The impressive basilica, the Baroque architecture, and the location in the heart of the Alps make the town a fascinating destination for culture-loving cyclists.

    Translated by Google •

      Around 1103 the area around Mariazell was taken over by the Carinthian Duke Heinrich III. donated to the St. Lambrecht Monastery,[2] whose monks built a cell there to missionize the local population. According to legend, the founding of the pilgrimage site dates back to December 21, 1157. Mariazell was first mentioned in a document in 1243, and a Marian altar was consecrated in 1266. In 1907 the pilgrimage church was elevated to a minor basilica. It has the ecclesiastical title of national shrine. It was renovated from 1992 to 2007.
      Mariazell is visited by around 1 million pilgrims every year (as of 2018), making it by far the most popular pilgrimage site in Austria, ahead of Maria Luggau.

      Translated by Google •

        August 8, 2025

        The Mariazell Basilica, officially the "Basilica of the Nativity of Mary," is considered Austria's most important pilgrimage site and is located 868 meters above sea level in the Styrian town of Mariazell. Its history begins in 1157, when, according to legend, the Benedictine monk Magnus erected a small linden wood statue of the Virgin Mary at this site – the miraculous image now venerated as the "Magna Mater Austriae." Over the centuries, these humble beginnings developed into a central Marian pilgrimage site for pilgrims from many parts of Central Europe, including Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Croatia.

        The current building was built primarily between 1644 and 1683 in the Baroque style, incorporating Gothic elements from the predecessor, such as the high choir and the approximately 90-meter-high tower. Inside, visitors will find magnificent Baroque altars, fine stucco, and the central Chapel of Grace, with its Romanesque statue of the Virgin Mary, sumptuously decorated with silver and gold.

        In 1907, Pope Pius XI granted the church the title of "Basilica Minor," and in 1983, Pope John Paul II visited the famous pilgrimage site. Today, the basilica is not only a spiritual center but also a significant cultural monument, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.

        Translated by Google •

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          Elevation 900 m

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          Location: Mariazell, Bezirk Bruck-Mürzzuschlag, Hochsteiermark, Styria, Austria

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