!!!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.

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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)

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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
G. Gugitz, Oesterreichs Gnadenstaetten in Kult und Brauch, 
5 vols., 1955-1958; L. Huettl, Marianische Wallfahrten im 
sueddt.-oesterreichischen Raum, 1985; Salzburger Wallfahrten in Kult 
und Brauch, exhibition catalogue, Salzburg 1986; R. Habermas, 
Wallfahrten und Aufruhr, 1991; W. Hengstler and K. Stocker, 
Wallfahrten - Wege zur Kraft, exhibition catalogue, Poellau Abbey 
1994.


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