Shrine of Our Lady of Maria Plain
The Shrine of Our Lady of Maria Plain on a hill near Salzburg.
The hilltop shrine of Our Lady of Maria Plain, home to a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary, has been a top pilgrimage destination for over three centuries. Mozart wrote his Coronation Mass inside the Sanctuary here.
History
In 16th-century Germany, a fire broke out in a family's bakery. Everything was destroyed except for a painting of the Virgin Mary that had been miraculously untouched.
The painting became the subject of local devotion, and 20 years later, the nobleman Rudolf of Gaming brought it to Maria Plain, an area on a hill overlooking Salzburg. The painting was first housed in a small chapel, but soon so many pilgrims came to pray before the image that a larger church had to be built.
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Maria Plain was commissioned by the bishop in 1671 and completed three years later. Benedictine monks assumed responsibility for the shrine.
In 1952, the pope raised the shrine to the status of a Minor Basilica, and in 1983, Pope John Paul II prayed before the image of the Virgin at Maria Plain.
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What to See
The location of Maria Plain is so spectacular that it attracts more than just pilgrims – it provides a commanding view extending 60 miles over the city of Salzburg to the Alps.
The miraculous painting of the Virgin Mary is over the high altar inside the Sanctuary. It is surrounded by votive pictures from the faithful who have received blessings from devotion to the image.
Pilgrims to Maria Plain can also visit the small chapel where the painting was first placed, and a number of small chapels on the upper part of the walking path to Maria Plain.
Getting There
Public transportation from Salzburg goes only to the base of Maria Plain Hill. From there, visitors must take a taxi or make the 20-minute uphill walk.
From the Salzburg train station, take bus #6 to the Plainbrücke bus stop. From there, turn right and cross the small bridge to Plainbergweg Street. Turn right, and follow the signs to Maria Plain.
- Wallfahrtsbasilika Maria Plain – German only
