Mariazell Basilica (Pilgrimage Church)

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.

The sublime beauty of the Mariazell Basilica probably impresses everyone and attracts people from near and far. On my tour in September 2021, I met a Polish cyclist from Częstochowa in Mariazell who had taken the train to Klagenfurt and wanted to visit famous churches on the way home - including the Basilica in Mariazell. The city is embedded in a beautiful landscape. If you are interested in more details, you can get impressions on my bike tour Aflenz Kurort - Mariazell - St. Aegyd am Neuwalde: komoot.de/tour/488798583.

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.