Pilgrimage Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary
The construction of the second and larger church on the Habsberg, hereinafter referred to as the “pilgrimage church” to distinguish it from the Chapel of Grace, goes back to the initiative of the Helfenberg manor.
The structure of the church (40 x 16.5 m), which is visible from afar, has a retracted choir in the north, followed by a nave with three window axes and a tower 37 m high in the south. The older tower of the Maria Hilf Church in Amberg was unmistakably the model for the double onion dome with lantern and cross (18 m).
Construction of the church began in 1761 following planning by the Munich court master mason, Leonhard Matthäus Gießl, and the participation of the electoral master mason Johann Fischer from Ingolstadt. In 1764, accounts were already settled with the plasterer Josef Dietmayer from Wessobrunn and the fresco painter Johann Michael Wild from Amberg. The organ was installed in 1767 by Johann Conrad Funtsch from Amberg. In the same year, the high altar with tabernacle, the pulpit and a reliquary, as well as probably the two side altars, were completed by Georg Leonhard Dänthl from Velburg. The year 1769 brought the completion of the church.
The focal point of the room is the mighty high altar. In the excerpt, God the Father graciously bends down. In the large central shrine framed by angels, the Mother of God floats upwards as the Immaculata. She takes all the prayers and needs of those seeking help with her and brings them before the face of God. Four powerful sculptures on the left, John the Baptist and Zacharias, and on the right, Joachim and John the Evangelist, refer to the earthly and spiritual family of Mary.
The side altars are of similar quality to the high altar. Two columns each flank a central shrine. This contains a sculpture of St. in the left altar. Florian, to the left is St. Elizabeth, on the right St. Ottilie. The right side altar contains the figure of St. in the central shrine. George, to the left is St. Francis Xavier, on the right St. John Nepomuk, see.
The highlight of the church's decoration is the large ceiling fresco in the nave. Its theme is: Healing of the sick,” says the banner of the angel in the center of the picture under the figure of Mary.
Source: Excerpts from the Habsberg pilgrimage church guide