The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Heiligenblut, Austria

In 914, a Danish knight named Briccius set out from Constantinople's Hagia Sophia, carrying a flask containing drops of Christ's blood. Crossing the Alps toward his homeland, he was overtaken by an avalanche. Facing death, he cut open his calf and concealed the precious vial within the wound. Shepherds later found his frozen body at a place where three ears of golden wheat had broken through the snow—the sign that led them to discover both the corpse and the relic hidden in his leg. Today, the Gothic spire of St. Vincent's Church rises against the backdrop of the Grossglockner, Austria's highest peak. The Holy Blood remains here, secured in a sacrament house within the church that took over a century to build. Pilgrims have climbed to this alpine village at 1,288 meters since 1273, drawn by the legend of Briccius and the relic he died protecting. The village itself bears his sacrifice in its name: Heiligenblut—Holy Blood.

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

The first chapel at Heiligenblut was documented in 1271, already housing the Holy Blood relic. The pilgrimage officially began in 1273, and by 1390 the growing influx of pilgrims demanded a proper church. Construction stretched across generations: the choir was completed around 1430, the nave marked with the year 1483 on its triumphal arch, and the church was finally consecrated on November 1, 1491. The legend of Briccius places him in the service of Byzantine Emperor Constantine VII. Whether the knight was Danish, as tradition holds, or the Latinized name suggests a different origin, his story captured the medieval imagination. The community petitioned for his canonization, but Rome never approved—the evidence was insufficient. Nevertheless, they built him a crypt beneath the church and venerated him locally. His story is told in a series of paintings uncovered in the nave arches during a 1913 restoration. The Holy Blood relic belongs to a tradition of Heilig-Blut veneration that spread across medieval Europe. Similar relics exist in Bruges, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, and Weingarten. At Heiligenblut, the flask remains locked in the church's sacrament house, visible but secured—protected, as one might say, from the threat of future avalanches.

☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Heiligenblut

Pfarrkirche St. Vinzenz

St. Vincent Parish and Pilgrimage Church The Gothic church dominates the village with its needle spire, oriented against the mountain backdrop that has made it one of Austria's most photographed sacred buildings. Master builder Hans Hueber, documented as "master craftsman at Sigmundskron 1483," is credited with the uniform interior design. The three-aisled, four-bay nave features double-row pointed arch windows and a gallery with Gothic four-passes on its parapet. The single-nave choir extends over profiled pillars with ribbed vaulting. The high altar, rising eleven meters, was installed in 1520 and depicts the Coronation of Mary. It comes from the Bolzano school, successors to the great Michael Pacher whose altarpiece at St. Wolfgang remains the finest intact winged altar in Europe. The paintings on the altar wings show scenes from the lives of Christ, Mary, John the Baptist, and St. Vincent, along with the four evangelists and church fathers. Neo-Gothic side altars by Adolf Vogel (1909) feature figures and reliefs carved by Josef Bachleitner. The console sculptures in the nave and choir, depicting the Good Shepherd and the twelve apostles, were created by Joseph Egger in 1710. A pulpit from the late seventeenth century, decorated with angel heads and fruit pendants, stands beside the triumphal arch. The wrought-iron memorial book (Eisernes Buch) lists the names of all who have perished on the Grossglockner—a reminder that this church stands at the gateway to Austria's most formidable peak. Address Hof, 9844 Heiligenblut am Großglockner GPS 47.039414, 12.841481 Map Google Maps Web heiligenblut.at

Krypta des Briccius

Crypt of Briccius Beneath the high altar, a crypt houses the tomb and remains of the legendary knight. Though never canonized, Briccius became the spiritual patron of this village and its pilgrims. An altar within the crypt allows for devotional prayer at his resting place. The space is accessible to visitors during church opening hours.

Bricciuskapelle

Briccius Chapel West of the hamlet of Winkl, at an elevation of 1,629 meters, stands a small rectangular chapel built in 1872. Above its altar hangs a baroque painting with sixteen depictions from the Briccius legend—a visual catechism of the knight's journey from Constantinople to his alpine grave.

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

Pinzgau Pilgrimage — June 28

Each year on June 28, pilgrims from the Pinzgau region of Salzburg cross the Alpine divide to Heiligenblut. The tradition connects two sides of the High Tauern through an ancient route that predates the modern road. The pilgrimage culminates in a solemn Mass at St. Vincent's Church, followed by veneration of the Holy Blood relic. The faithful gather from villages along the route, their procession winding down into the valley as it has for centuries.

Epiphany Singing — January

Heiligenblut's Sternsingen (Star Singing) tradition was inscribed in Austria's National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. During the Christmas season, groups dressed as the Magi travel from house to house, blessing homes and collecting for charitable causes. The custom dates to the sixteenth century and represents one of the village's living expressions of folk piety.

🛏️ Where to Stay

Nationalpark Lodge Grossglockner ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — At the foot of Austria's highest peak, with direct access to Hohe Tauern National Park. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel Hunguest Hotel Heiligenblut ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Full-service spa hotel with indoor pool, three tennis courts, and wellness facilities. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel Hotel Kärntnerhof ⭐⭐⭐ — Three-star superior property in a quiet setting on the Möll River, 600 meters from the village center. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel Pension Bergkristall (guesthouse) — Family-run pension with mountain views, free WiFi, and parking. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel

🚗 Getting There

By Air: The nearest airports are Salzburg (approximately 130 km via the Grossglockner High Alpine Road when open) and Klagenfurt (approximately 100 km). Both require several hours' drive through mountain terrain. By Car: Heiligenblut lies at the southern terminus of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, one of Austria's most scenic drives. From May to November, the road connects to Bruck in Salzburg province (toll: €35.50 per car). From the south, approach via the B107 from Lienz in East Tyrol. The road closes overnight (21:30-05:00 in high season; 20:00-06:00 otherwise). By Bus: Regional bus services connect Heiligenblut to Lienz and other Carinthian towns. During summer, additional connections run from Zell am See via the Alpine road. On Foot: The 720-kilometer Alpe-Adria Trail begins in Heiligenblut, connecting to Muggia on the Adriatic coast. The High & Holy pilgrimage route (Hoch & Heilig) spans 191 kilometers in nine stages from Lavant to Heiligenblut, ending at St. Vincent's Church.

🔗 Useful Links

Heiligenblut Tourism — Official tourism portal with accommodation, events, and visitor information. Visit Carinthia — Regional tourism guide with hiking and cultural attractions. Hohe Tauern National Park — Information on Austria's largest national park, surrounding Heiligenblut.

🥾 Pilgrim Routes

Alpe-Adria Trail — This 720-kilometer long-distance trail begins in Heiligenblut and traverses Austria, Slovenia, and Italy before reaching Muggia on the Adriatic coast. The route follows ancient trade and pilgrimage paths through three countries and three cultures. High & Holy Pilgrimage Route — The Hoch & Heilig route covers 191 kilometers in nine stages, beginning at Lavant in East Tyrol and ending at Heiligenblut. The trail connects sacred sites and mountain landscapes, culminating at St. Vincent's Church and the Holy Blood relic.

🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations

Maria Saal (85 km) — The "cradle of Carinthian Christianity" and spiritual center of the region. The pilgrimage church houses the tomb of Modestus, Apostle of Carinthia, and a Gothic Madonna venerated for centuries. Mariazell (250 km) — Austria's national shrine and the Magna Mater Austriae, drawing pilgrims from across Central Europe. The basilica houses a miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary venerated since the twelfth century. Salzburg (130 km via Grossglockner Road) — Birthplace of Mozart and site of Salzburg Cathedral, with St. Rupert's festival celebrating the patron saint who brought Christianity to the region.

🪶 Closing Reflection

"The outpouring of Christ's blood is the source of the Church's life."

— Pope Benedict XVI, Homily at Westminster Cathedral, September 18, 2010