The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Altötting, Germany
In 1489, a three-year-old boy fell into the Mörnbach stream and drowned. His desperate mother carried his lifeless body across the Kapellplatz to a small octagonal chapel housing an ancient image of the Virgin Mary. As she laid her child at Mary's feet and begged for his life, something extraordinary happened: the boy opened his eyes and breathed again. Word spread rapidly through Bavaria and beyond—Our Lady of Altötting had worked a miracle.
This dramatic event transformed a quiet Bavarian market town into German-speaking Europe's most important Marian pilgrimage site. For over five centuries now, more than a million pilgrims annually have made their way to this small Upper Bavarian community, 90 kilometers east of Munich, to pray before the Schwarze Madonna—the Black Madonna whose dark linden wood face has been blackened further by centuries of candlelight. Pope Benedict XVI, who was born just 15 kilometers away in Marktl am Inn, called Altötting "the heart of Bavaria and one of the hearts of Europe." He visited often as a child with his family, returned as Archbishop of Munich, and came again as Pope in September 2006, placing his episcopal ring on the Madonna's scepter as a sign of his lifelong devotion.
The shrine sits at the center of the spacious Kapellplatz, one of Germany's most beautiful squares, where the tiny Chapel of Grace (Gnadenkapelle) stands surrounded by the Gothic Collegiate Church, the massive neo-Baroque Basilica of St. Anna, the Capuchin monastery where St. Konrad von Parzham served as porter for 41 years, and the New Chapel of Eucharistic Adoration. Whether you come as a devout pilgrim circling the chapel on your knees while clutching a wooden cross, or simply as a curious visitor drawn by Bavaria's rich Catholic heritage, Altötting offers a profound encounter with centuries of living faith.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
Altötting's sacred history predates even the miracle of 1489. The distinctive octagonal core of the Chapel of Grace was built around the year 700, making it possibly the oldest surviving structure in Bavaria and certainly the oldest Marian shrine in Germany. Some scholars believe it was inspired by Byzantine churches like San Vitale in Ravenna. King Karlmann, great-grandson of Charlemagne, established a Benedictine monastery and royal residence here in 876, bringing with him a relic of the Apostle Philip that drew early pilgrims.
The 66-centimeter statue of the Virgin Mary that stands at the heart of the devotion arrived around 1330, carved in the Upper Rhine region from linden wood in the early Gothic style. Mary holds a scepter with a lily blossom in her left hand, symbolizing her virginity, while the Child Jesus rests on her right arm, carrying a celestial sphere representing divine omnipotence. The dark coloring that gives her the title "Black Madonna" comes from the natural aging of the wood combined with the soot of countless candles lit over seven centuries.
Following the miracles of 1489 and 1490—when a second child, crushed beneath a cart, was also restored to life—the devotion grew rapidly. The Wittelsbach dukes of Bavaria became fervent promoters of the shrine, and their hearts were buried here as a sign of perpetual devotion. Today, 28 silver urns containing the hearts of Bavarian rulers line the chapel's interior, including those of King Ludwig II, the "fairy-tale king" who built Neuschwanstein. Since 1518, the Madonna has been dressed in precious robes called Gnadenröckln, originally fashioned from the wedding gowns of Wittelsbach princesses.
Three popes have visited Altötting: Pope Pius VI in 1782, St. John Paul II in 1980, and Pope Benedict XVI in 2006. During his visit, Benedict XVI gifted the Madonna his episcopal ring—an amethyst set in gold, given to him by his siblings upon his ordination as Archbishop of Munich in 1977. In 2008, he conferred upon Altötting the Golden Rose, one of the highest papal honors for a Marian shrine.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Altötting
The pilgrimage complex centers on the magnificent Kapellplatz, a vast square where the intimate Chapel of Grace stands like a jewel surrounded by larger churches, monasteries, and pilgrim facilities. Pilgrims traditionally process around the square, stopping to pray at each sacred site, while the more fervent circle the chapel on their knees.
Gnadenkapelle (Chapel of Grace)
Local Name: Heilige Kapelle, Gnadenkapelle
Address: Kapellplatz, 84503 Altötting, Germany
GPS Coordinates: 48.226293, 12.676465
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Website: gnadenort-altoetting.de
Dedication: Our Lady of Altötting (Black Madonna)
Historical Note:
The chapel's octagonal core dates to approximately 700 AD, making it possibly the oldest intact structure in Bavaria. A nave with bell tower was added after 1489 to accommodate the growing flood of pilgrims. The interior received its Baroque transformation in the 17th century, including a magnificent silver altar crafted in 1670. The exterior walkway is covered with over 2,000 votive tablets from several centuries, each testifying to favors received through Mary's intercession.
Spiritual Importance:
This is the spiritual heart of Altötting and the destination of every pilgrimage. The miraculous image of the Black Madonna stands above the silver altar, dressed in elaborate robes that change according to the liturgical season. Twice yearly—on March 25 (Annunciation) and September 8 (Nativity of Mary)—a ray of sunlight passes through a small window and illuminates the dark face of the Madonna. Pilgrims often circle the chapel on their knees in the covered walkway, praying the rosary. Silver urns containing the hearts of 28 Bavarian rulers remind visitors of the devotion that has bound Bavaria's Catholic identity to this shrine for centuries.
Basilika St. Anna (Basilica of St. Anna)
Local Name: Wallfahrtsbasilika St. Anna
Address: Bruder-Konrad-Platz 1, 84503 Altötting, Germany
GPS Coordinates: 48.231977, 12.672361
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Website: gnadenort-altoetting.de
Dedication: St. Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Historical Note:
Built between 1910 and 1912 to accommodate the ever-growing pilgrimage crowds, St. Anna is the largest church constructed in Germany during the 20th century. Designed by architect Johann Baptist Schott in the neo-Baroque style, it measures 83 meters in length, 27.5 meters in width, and 24 meters in height, with capacity for over 8,000 worshippers. Pope Pius X elevated it to a minor basilica in 1913. The façade features four massive sculptures weighing 1,000 kilograms each, depicting the ancestors of St. Anne: Adam, Abraham, Jesse, and David.
Spiritual Importance:
The basilica serves as the main venue for large pilgrim Masses and major celebrations. The magnificent high altar, with a centerpiece showing St. Anne teaching the young Mary, was donated by Prince Regent Luitpold. Twelve side altars line the bright, airy interior, whose white walls and natural light create a space both grand and welcoming. The basilica adjoins the Capuchin monastery where St. Konrad von Parzham served.
Kapuzinerkirche St. Konrad (St. Konrad Church)
Local Name: Bruder-Konrad-Kirche
Address: Kapuzinerstraße 1, 84503 Altötting, Germany
GPS Coordinates: 48.226200, 12.677400
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Dedication: St. Konrad von Parzham
Historical Note:
The Capuchin friary was founded in 1654 by Prince-Bishop Franz Wilhelm von Wartenberg. Originally dedicated to St. Anne and later to St. Mary Magdalene, it was renamed in honor of St. Konrad von Parzham after his canonization in 1934. The simple Capuchin architecture reflects the order's commitment to poverty and humility.
Spiritual Importance:
Here Brother Konrad served as porter for 41 years, welcoming pilgrims and caring for the poor at the friary door. His reliquary shrine draws pilgrims seeking his intercession. The Alexius cell, where visitors leave prayer requests and letters of thanksgiving, testifies to the continued devotion to this humble saint. St. Konrad was the first German to be canonized after three centuries of Protestantism.
Stiftspfarrkirche St. Philipp und Jakob (Collegiate Church)
Local Name: Stiftskirche
Address: Kapellplatz 4a, 84503 Altötting, Germany
GPS Coordinates: 48.226500, 12.675800
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Dedication: Sts. Philip and James the Apostles
Historical Note:
King Karlmann founded a canonical chapter here in 876, along with a Romanesque basilica consecrated in 1245. The present Gothic hall church, the last of its kind in southern Germany, was constructed between 1499 and 1511. The beautifully carved north and south portals rank among Bavaria's most valuable late Gothic works. On the clock pedestal stands the famous Tod von Eding ("Death of Eding"), a mechanical figure from the plague era that reminds visitors of mortality.
Spiritual Importance:
The Collegiate Church serves as the parish church of Altötting and hosts regular pilgrim services. The medieval cloister on the south side, with its preserved frescoes and canons' graves, offers a space for contemplation. The Schatzkammer (Treasury) nearby houses the famous Goldenes Rössl ("Golden Horse"), a masterpiece of medieval goldsmith work depicting the Virgin and Child.
Neue Anbetungskapelle (New Chapel of Eucharistic Adoration)
Address: Kapellplatz, 84503 Altötting, Germany
GPS Coordinates: 48.226100, 12.676900
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Historical Note:
Inaugurated during Pope Benedict XVI's visit on September 11, 2006, this modern chapel was built specifically for perpetual Eucharistic adoration. During his visit, the Pope led a procession with the statue of Our Lady of Grace to this chapel, emphasizing the connection between Marian devotion and the Real Presence.
Spiritual Importance:
Pilgrims are invited to spend time in silent adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. The chapel offers a place of profound stillness amid the activity of the pilgrimage square.
Jerusalem Panorama
Address: Gebhard-Fugel-Weg 10, 84503 Altötting, Germany
GPS Coordinates: 48.227800, 12.678200
Google Maps: View on Google Maps
Website: panorama-altoetting.de
Historical Note:
Painted by Professor Gebhard Fugel in 1903, this 1,200-square-meter circular panorama depicts the Crucifixion of Christ against a backdrop of Jerusalem. It is one of the few surviving panorama paintings in Europe and offers an immersive meditation on the Passion.
Spiritual Importance:
Visitors stand at the center of the circular room, surrounded by the dramatic scene of Calvary. An audio guide narrates the events of Good Friday, making this a powerful complement to the Marian devotion at the shrine.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
August 15 – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Gnadenkapelle and Kapellplatz. Altötting's principal feast draws tens of thousands of pilgrims for candlelit processions around the Kapellplatz. The illuminated square, filled with the glow of countless candles and the sound of Marian hymns, creates an unforgettable atmosphere of devotion.
Pentecost – Three-Day Youth Pilgrimage
Annually, some 7,000 young pilgrims from the Diocese of Passau complete a 90-kilometer walk to Altötting over the three days of Pentecost. This is the largest youth pilgrimage in Bavaria and one of the most vibrant expressions of living faith at the shrine.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Hotel Zur Post ⭐⭐⭐⭐
📍 Address: Kapellplatz 2, 84503 Altötting, Germany
🌐 Website: hotelzurpost-altoetting.de
🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com
Historic four-star hotel directly on the Kapellplatz, with 700 years of hospitality tradition. Offers 75 individually designed rooms including nine specially furnished pilgrim rooms. Excellent restaurant serving both traditional Bavarian and modern cuisine.
Gästehaus Pfennigmann
📍 Address: Neuöttinger Straße 55, 84503 Altötting, Germany
Welcoming guesthouse with simple, comfortable rooms ideal for pilgrims seeking affordable accommodation near the shrine.
Hotel Antoniushof ⭐⭐⭐
📍 Address: Mühldorfer Straße 1, 84503 Altötting, Germany
Comfortable three-star hotel with modern amenities, located within walking distance of the pilgrimage sites.
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Munich Airport (MUC) is approximately 80 kilometers west of Altötting. Salzburg Airport (SZG) is about 55 kilometers to the southeast.
By Train: Altötting has its own railway station (Bahnhof Altötting) with regular connections from Munich (approximately 1.5-2 hours, usually with a change at Mühldorf). The station is 800 meters from the Kapellplatz—a pleasant 10-minute walk straight along Bahnhofstraße.
By Car: From Munich, take the A94 motorway eastward. Exit at "Altötting Zentrum" and follow signs to the town center. Underground parking is available near the Kapellplatz.
By Bicycle: The 248-kilometer Benediktweg (Benedict Trail) connects sites associated with Pope Benedict XVI's childhood and youth, starting and ending in Altötting. The Via Maria pilgrimage route links Mariazell in Austria to Altötting over 400 kilometers.
📚 Further Reading
Books:
Articles & Online Resources:
🎥 Recommended Videos
🔗 Useful Links
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
🥾 Pilgrim Routes
🪶 Closing Reflection
"I had the good fortune to be born very close to Altötting. Therefore, the pilgrimages to the shrine with my parents and siblings are among my earliest and most beautiful memories... The presence of something good, something saintly and healing, the Mother's goodness, through which the goodness of God himself is shared with us."
— Pope Benedict XVI, Preface to the Altötting City Guide