The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Maria Luggau, Austria

In 1513, a peasant woman named Helena awoke in the remote Lesachtal Valley from a dream in which the Virgin Mary instructed her to build a chapel in a wheat field. When local authorities dismissed her vision, Helena sold her meager possessions to purchase a wooden statue of Our Lady of Sorrows and began construction herself. A skeptic who mocked her work was thrown from his horse yet survived unharmed—an event the villagers interpreted as miraculous. Within two years, Helena's humble chapel stood complete, and pilgrims began arriving to venerate the sorrowful Madonna. Today, over 500 years later, the Servite friars who have tended this shrine since 1635 welcome 40,000 pilgrims annually to Carinthia's only basilica. The baroque church Maria Schnee rises with its distinctive twin towers above the Alpine meadows, its richly decorated interior drawing pilgrims year-round to pray before the Madonna of Miracles—the same wooden statue Helena purchased five centuries ago.

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

The origins of Maria Luggau trace to Helena's 1513 vision and her determined response. By 1520, a Gothic church had replaced her original wooden structure. The site's reputation for miraculous healings grew, and in 1591 a Franciscan monastery was established alongside the church, with construction completed by 1628. In 1635, the Servite Order—the Order of the Servants of Mary, founded in 1233 specifically to honor Our Lady of Sorrows—assumed stewardship of the sanctuary. Their particular charism made them ideal guardians of a shrine dedicated to the sorrowful Madonna. The Servites have maintained an unbroken presence here for nearly four centuries. Following fire damage, extensive restoration between 1730 and 1788 transformed the church into the magnificent Baroque pilgrimage church visible today. Innsbruck master carpenter Paul Huber created the stunning high altar in 1749. The interior features elaborate frescoes, stuccoes, and the venerated Madonna of Miracles image. Two walls display paintings depicting healings attributed to Our Lady of Luggau, each miracle meticulously recorded in the book of miracles kept in the sacristy. On the feast of Our Lady of the Snows in 1986, Pope John Paul II elevated the church to Minor Basilica status—making it the only basilica in all of Carinthia and affirming its importance as one of Austria's premier Marian shrines.

☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Maria Luggau

Basilika Maria Schnee

Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows The Baroque basilica houses the venerated statue of Our Lady of Sorrows that Helena purchased in 1515, now enshrined above the high altar. Pilgrims come to pray before the Madonna of Miracles image and contemplate the painted ex-votos covering the sanctuary walls—each one a testimony to answered prayers. The ornate interior, with its ceiling frescoes depicting scenes from Mary's life, creates a space where heaven seems to touch earth. Address Maria Luggau 26, 9655 Maria Luggau, Austria GPS 46.664700, 12.845800 Map Google Maps Web kath-kirche-kaernten.at

Servitenkloster & Bildungshaus

Servite Monastery & Educational Center The monastery adjoining the basilica offers accommodation for pilgrims seeking extended spiritual retreat. Since 1989, it has also served as the Catholic Educational Center for Upper Carinthia (Bildungshaus Maria Luggau), hosting conferences, retreats, and pilgrim groups. The Servite friars continue their centuries-old ministry of hospitality and prayer. Phone +43 4716 601 Email bildungshaus.luggau@aon.at

Historischer Klostergarten

Historic Cloister Garden One of Austria's most important early Baroque monastery gardens, preserved in its original structure. Visitors discover colorful flowerbeds, medicinal herb plantings cultivated by the friars for centuries, a greenhouse, and the octagonal garden pavilion known locally as the Spatzentempel (Sparrow Temple). The garden offers a contemplative space for prayer and reflection amid the Alpine setting.

Bildstöcke

Roadside Aedicules Twelve sacred wayside shrines mark the pilgrimage approach from east to west toward the basilica. These small devotional stations invite pilgrims to pause for prayer as they journey toward the sanctuary, transforming the walk itself into an act of devotion.

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

Feast of Our Lady of the Snows — August 5

The basilica's patronal feast (Maria Schnee) commemorates the Roman miracle of 352 when snow fell in August to mark the site of the future Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. Special Masses and processions honor the shrine's dedication, drawing pilgrims from throughout Austria and northern Italy.

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows — September 15

The Servite Order's principal feast celebrates their founding charism of devotion to Mary's Seven Sorrows. The day holds special significance at this shrine dedicated to the sorrowful Madonna, where the Servites have maintained continuous presence since 1635.

Sappada Pilgrimage — Third Weekend of September

A centuries-old tradition dating to 1804, when residents of the Italian town of Sappada vowed to seek the Virgin's help against cattle plague. Over 400 pilgrims from Sappada, Sauris, Forni di Sopra, and Ampezzo walk approximately 9 hours through the Carnic Alps. Departure is at 3:30 AM Saturday from Cima Sappada, with arrival at the shrine around 1:30 PM. Mass is celebrated Sunday at 8:00 AM before the return journey.

🛏️ Where to Stay

Der Paternwirt ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Family-run hotel at 1,100m elevation overlooking Maria Luggau, operated by the Obernosterer family. 59 beds in modern rooms with panoramic Alpine views. The wellness area offers Finnish, steam, and herbal saunas. Half-board available with regional cuisine. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel Bildungshaus Maria Luggau (monastery accommodation) — Pilgrim retreat accommodation within the Servite monastery complex. Ideal for those seeking a contemplative stay close to the basilica, with access to the cloister garden and chapel. Website Gasthof Luggau (traditional inn) — Located 400 meters from the basilica in the heart of Maria Luggau. Restaurant serving Austrian cuisine, garden with small pool, playground, and sauna. Reserve this hotel

🚗 Getting There

Maria Luggau sits at 1,179 meters elevation in the Lesachtal Valley, near the Italian border in Carinthia. The valley's remote Alpine location requires some planning but rewards pilgrims with stunning scenery. By Train + Bus: From Vienna, take the train via Villach to Kötschach-Mauthen, then Bus 5050 into the Lesachtal. From Munich or Salzburg, travel via Spittal-Millstättersee to Oberdrauburg, then Bus 5052 to Kötschach-Mauthen, transferring to Bus 5050. From the west (Innsbruck), take the train via Brenner and Bruneck to Tassenbach. By Car: From Lienz, approximately 45 minutes via the B111 through Kartitsch and Tassenbach. From Munich, travel through the Felbertauern tunnel to Lienz, then continue to the Lesachtal. Local Transport: Bus Line 965 operates between Sillian and St. Lorenzen, serving Maria Luggau. Local buses are free with the LesachtalCard available to overnight guests. Nearest Airports: Klagenfurt (125 km), Innsbruck (170 km), Venice Marco Polo (200 km).

🥾 Pilgrim Routes

Marienpilgerweg

Virgin Mary Pilgrimage Route A 266-kilometer trail from the Pilgrimage Church of Maria Rojach in the Lavant Valley to Maria Luggau, passing 16 Marian churches along the way. Best walked in ten daily stages of 16-32 kilometers each. The route traverses some of Carinthia's most beautiful alpine landscapes while connecting historic places of Marian devotion.

Hoch & Heilig Pilgerweg

High & Holy Pilgrimage Route A nine-stage mountain pilgrimage crossing Alps and borders, passing quaint mountain villages and sacred treasures. This challenging route rewards pilgrims with dramatic scenery and encounters with remote Alpine communities where traditional Catholic faith remains vibrant.

Sappada-Wallfahrt

Sappada Pilgrimage The historic 9-hour walk from Cima Sappada in Italy through the Carnic Alps, departing at 3:30 AM on the third Saturday of September. This ancient tradition dates to 1804 and continues to draw over 400 pilgrims annually from Italian communities south of the border.

🔗 Useful Links

Lesachtal Tourism — Official tourism website for the Lesachtal Valley with accommodation, activities, and visitor information. Diocese of Gurk-Klagenfurt — Parish page with Mass times and contact information. Osttirol Tourism — Regional tourism information for East Tyrol and surrounding areas. Arrival & Transport — Detailed directions and public transport schedules for reaching the Lesachtal.

🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations

Innsbruck (150 km) - Alpine capital of Tyrol with the venerated Maria Hilf painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder, Emperor Maximilian's bronze-guarded tomb at the Hofkirche, and Austria's finest Rococo basilica at Wilten. Salzburg (200 km) - Birthplace of Western Christianity north of the Alps, where St. Rupert founded the oldest monasteries in the German-speaking world and Mozart was baptized in the Baroque Cathedral.

🪶 Closing Reflection

"Mary, Mother of Sorrows, remains at the foot of the cross. She simply stands there."

— Pope Francis, Homily at the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows, Šaštín, Slovakia, September 15, 2021