In 875 AD, missionaries from Freising arrived on a rocky island in the turquoise waters of what the Slavs called the Vurda—the lake that would become the Wörthersee. Here, amid the pagan peoples of Carantania, they raised the first church to Mary, a beacon of the new faith on an island sanctuary. Bishop Waldo brought relics of Saints Primus and Felician from Rome—martyrs who had died for Christ under Diocletian—and buried them in a crypt where pilgrims would venerate them 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. Twin Gothic spires now rise from the peninsula, their reflection shimmering in Austria's warmest alpine lake. Eleven centuries of faith have sanctified this promontory, from the earliest missionaries who Christianized the Slavic peoples to the modern pilgrims who come to pray where antiquity meets beauty.
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—the bones of martyrs in their crypt, the prayers of a hundred generations, the presence of Mary who has watched over this lake since before Austria itself existed.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The Christianization of Carinthia proceeded from this island church. Missionaries from Freising, based at Innichen Abbey in South Tyrol, 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, whose bones connect this alpine sanctuary to the blood-soaked arena of ancient Rome.
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, who cared for the site until their suppression.
The peninsula's natural beauty has attracted artists and musicians seeking inspiration. 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 twin spires visible across the lake from kilometers away. The interior preserves late Gothic architecture with Baroque additions, creating a layered testimony to centuries of devotion. Wall paintings and carved altarpieces reward careful contemplation.
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, connecting modern pilgrims to the martyrs who died confessing Christ in the Roman persecutions.
Winterkirche
Winter Church (Rosenkranzkirche)
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, its Romanesque architecture a testament to the site's antiquity.
The Peninsula
The promontory itself, once truly an island, offers a walking meditation between the two churches. Views extend across the turquoise lake to the Karawanken mountains on the Slovenian border, the beauty of creation complementing the beauty of faith.
🕯️ 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, connecting the Carinthian faithful to the witnesses of the early Church.
Assumption of Mary — August 15
As a Marian pilgrimage site since 875, Maria Wörth celebrates the Assumption with particular solemnity. The church's ancient dedication to Mary draws pilgrims on this great summer feast.
Nativity of Mary — September 8
The feast of Mary's birth brings pilgrims as the summer season wanes and the lake reflects autumn's first colors.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Strandhotel Seerose ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Lakeside hotel with private beach and views of Maria Wörth's illuminated churches. Spa facilities and excellent Carinthian cuisine. Reserve this hotel
Seehotel Wörthersee ⭐⭐⭐ — Family-run hotel on the lake with comfortable rooms and terrace restaurant overlooking the water. Reserve this hotel
Gasthof zur Wallfahrtskirche (guesthouse) — Traditional inn near the church, offering simple pilgrim hospitality in the heart of Maria Wörth village.
🚗 Getting There
By Car: Maria Wörth lies on the southern shore of the Wörthersee, approximately 14 kilometers southwest of Klagenfurt. From Klagenfurt, take the B91 along the lake shore. The drive takes about 20 minutes. Parking available in the village.
By Bus: Regular service connects Maria Wörth to Klagenfurt and other lakeside communities, with stops near the peninsula.
By Ferry: Summer ferries cross the Wörthersee from Klagenfurt and other lakeside resorts, offering a pilgrimage approach by water—recalling the centuries when Maria Wörth was truly an island accessible only by boat.
By Train: Klagenfurt Hauptbahnhof lies 14 km east, with connections throughout Austria and to Venice.
📚 Further Reading
Wilhelm Neumann. Maria Wörth: Kirchen und Kunst am Wörthersee — Detailed guide to the churches and their art treasures (in German).
🔗 Useful Links
Maria Wörth Municipality — Official municipal website with visitor information.
Wörthersee Tourism — Regional tourism with accommodation and activities.
Diocese of Gurk-Klagenfurt — Official diocesan website.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Maria Saal (20 km) — Carinthia's oldest pilgrimage church on the Zollfeld, with Roman inscriptions and medieval frescoes.
Gurk Cathedral (40 km) — Romanesque cathedral with the famous crypt of 100 columns and Bishop Hemma's tomb.
Maria Luggau (80 km) — High alpine Servite monastery, one of the three great Alpine Marian shrines.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"The Mother of God has never ceased to obtain spiritual benefits in those who, with faith and devotion, come here to pray." — Pope Francis, Visit to Loreto, March 25, 2019
