Wallfahrten#

Pilgrimages, journeys to sacred places or shrines for religious motives. Pilgrimages culminated in the Middle Ages, declined during the period of Reformation but experienced another upswing during the time of the Counter-Reformation and particularly during the Turkish wars and on the occasion of victories over the Ottomans. Many new shrines were founded, mostly on account of miraculous events, so that by 1700 nearly every small district in Austria had its own pilgrimage church or chapel, which was cared for with religious fervour. Major restrictions were imposed during the Age of Enlightenment. Group pilgrimages were forbidden and many centres abolished under Joseph II. Romanticism and the religious revival of the 19th century caused another upswing, and the experience of two World Wars prepared the ground for more interiorised pilgrimage practices in the 20th century. Since the 1970s pilgrimages to international holy places (Rome, Lourdes, Fatima) have assumed particular importance.

Most Austrian shrines owe their existence to the presence of a miracle-working image. The predominant pilgrimages are those in honour of the Virgin Mary. Austria's most important Marian shrine is at the basilica of Mariazell (Magna Mater Austriae; Via Sacra from Vienna to Mariazell). Pilgrimages have had a major impact on the economics and tourism of the places in question (inns, retail trade, devotional objects) and have given impetus to literary works, ecclesiastic art and popular arts and crafts (pilgrims' songs, churches and church interiors, votive and devotional objects)

Important shrines in Austria: Burgenland: Frauenkirchen, Loretto, Maria Weinberg (municipality of Eberau). Carinthia: Gurk, Heiligenblut, Maria Elend (St. Jakob im Rosental), Mariahilf (municipality of Guttaring), Maria Luggau (municipality of Lesachtal), Maria Woerth, Vierberge-Wallfahrt. Lower Austria: Maria Taferl, Oberleis (municipality of Ernstbrunn), Mariahilfberg (municipality of Gutenstein), Hafnerberg and Klein-Mariazell (municipality of Altenmarkt an der Triesting), Goettweig, Heiligenkreuz-Gutenbrunn (municipality of Gutenbrunn), Klosterneuburg, Maria Dreieichen (municipality of Rosenburg-Mold), Maria Roggendorf (municipality of Wullersdorf), Maria Schutz (municipality of Schottwien), Sonntagberg. Upper Austria: Christkindl (municipality of Steyr), Frauenstein (municipality of Molln), Heiligenkreuz bei Kremsmuenster, Poestlingberg (Linz), St. Wolfgang in the Salzkammergut, Stadl-Paura. Salzburg: Boeckstein (municipality of Bad Gastein), Duerrnberg (municipality of Hallein), Filzmoos, Maria Bueheli (municipality of Oberndorf), Maria Plain (municipality of Bergheim), Maria Kirchenthal (municipality of St. Martin bei Lofer). Styria: Fernitz, Admont, Frauenberg bei Kapfenberg, Frauenberg (municipality of Seggauberg), Maria Buch-Feistritz, Maria Lankowitz, Maria Schnee (near Seckau), Mariazell, Poellauberg, St. Veit am Vogau, Maria Schoenanger (municipality of St. Lambrecht), Judendorf-Strassengel, Strassgang (Graz), Mariatrost (Graz), Ulrichsbrunn (municipality of Semriach), Weiz. Tirol: Kundl, Maria Lavant (municipality of Lavant), Maria Rast (municipality of Hainzenberg), Mariastein, Maria Waldrast (municipality of Muehlbachl), Wilten (Basilica, Innsbruck). Vorarlberg: Bildstein, St. Arbogast (municipality of Goetzis), Mariastern Gwiggen (municipality of Hohenweiler), St. Gebhard (in Hohenbregenz castle). Vienna: St. Stephen's Cathedral (Maria Pócs), Mariahilf, Maria Hietzing, Mariabrunn, Klein-Maria-Taferl (Grossjedlersdorf).

Literature#