The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Maria Wörth, Austria
A Gothic church on a Wörthersee peninsula where martyrs' relics have drawn pilgrims since 875 AD.
On a rocky peninsula jutting into the turquoise waters of the Wörthersee, twin church spires have guided pilgrims for over a thousand years. Maria Wörth—"Maria on the Island"—was indeed an island until 1770, when embankments joined it to the Carinthian shore. Here, around 875, missionaries from Freising raised the first church to Mary as they Christianized the Slavic peoples of Carantania. Eleven centuries later, the Gothic pilgrimage church still rises from the promontory, its reflection shimmering in Austria's warmest alpine lake. The relics of Saints Primus and Felician, martyred under Diocletian, rest in the crypt where Bishop Waldo solemnly interred them in the ninth century. Gustav Mahler found inspiration in these waters; the Vienna Boys' Choir spends summers here; couples from across Europe choose this romantic setting for their weddings. But beneath the tourism beats a heart of ancient faith.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The Christianization of Carinthia proceeded from this island church. Missionaries from Freising, based at Innichen Abbey, established their outpost here around 875. An 894 deed first records the name "Maria Werd"—Maria on the Island—documenting a place already sacred to the new faith. Bishop Waldo brought the relics of Saints Primus and Felician from Rome, martyrs who had died for Christ under emperors Diocletian and Maximian in 286-287. Their solemn burial in the crypt established Maria Wörth as a pilgrimage destination. For over a millennium, the faithful have come to venerate these witnesses to the early Church. Fire destroyed both churches in 1399; they rose again in the late Gothic style that defines them today. The Freising prince-bishops gradually lost influence, and around 1500 the community passed to Millstatt Abbey, then from 1598 to the Jesuits. The peninsula's natural beauty has attracted artists and musicians. Gustav Mahler composed in the surrounding hills; Alban Berg found peace here; the Vienna Boys' Choir continues to summer in Maria Wörth. When the Gothic church is illuminated at night, its reflection on the lake creates what visitors describe as an "incredibly beautiful fairy tale."
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Maria Wörth
Pfarrkirche Hl. Primus und Felizian
Parish Church of Saints Primus and Felician The Gothic church stands at the highest point of the peninsula, its spires visible across the lake. The interior preserves late Gothic architecture with Baroque additions. The crypt contains the relics of the martyrs Primus and Felician that have drawn pilgrims since the ninth century. Address Kirchenweg 10, 9082 Maria Wörth GPS 46.6194, 14.1650 Map Google Maps Web maria-woerth.gv.at
Winterkirche
Winter Church The smaller Romanesque "Winter Church" stands below the main parish church on the peninsula. It served the community during harsh alpine winters when the main church was difficult to heat. Today it offers intimate space for prayer and small celebrations.
The Crypt
Beneath the parish church, the crypt preserves the relics of Saints Primus and Felician in their original resting place. This space of ancient sanctity lies at the heart of Maria Wörth's pilgrimage tradition.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of Saints Primus and Felician — June 9
The patronal feast honors the Roman martyrs whose relics lie in the crypt. Special Masses and veneration of relics mark the day.
Assumption of Mary — August 15
As a Marian pilgrimage site since 875, Maria Wörth celebrates the Assumption with particular solemnity. The church's dedication to Mary draws pilgrims on this great feast.
🚗 Getting There
By Car: Maria Wörth lies on the southern shore of the Wörthersee, approximately 14 kilometers southwest of Klagenfurt. The drive takes about 20 minutes. By Bus: Regular service connects Maria Wörth to Klagenfurt and other lakeside communities. By Boat: Summer ferries cross the Wörthersee, offering a pilgrimage approach by water—recalling the centuries when Maria Wörth was truly an island.
🔗 Useful Links
Maria Wörth Tourism — Visitor information and accommodation. (woerthersee.com) Visit Carinthia — Regional information for the Wörthersee area. (visitcarinthia.at)
🪶 Closing Reflection
"When its Gothic pilgrimage church is lit up at night, it shines out over the entire lake from its peninsula—an incredibly beautiful fairy tale and a venerable witness of a great past." — Traditional description