The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Rankweil, Austria

In the early sixth century, the Irish missionary Fridolin arrived in the Alemannic settlement of Vinomna—today's Rankweil—to testify in a property dispute. The nobleman Landolf had cheated his brother Urso of an inheritance promised to Fridolin's monastery. But Urso was dead, and the court demanded a witness. Fridolin walked to Urso's grave, commanded him to rise, and led the corpse into the courtroom to testify against his own brother. The terrified Landolf fled, and a stone bearing Fridolin's knee-print from his vigil prayers became one of Vorarlberg's strangest relics. Today, pilgrims climb the Liebfrauenberg—the "Hill of Our Lady"—to reach the Basilika Rankweil, a fortified sanctuary rising 502 meters above the Rhine Valley. The church holds three treasures: a fifteenth-century carved Madonna credited with countless healings, a silver processional cross concealing a True Cross relic, and the quartz marble stone where Fridolin knelt in prayer. Since 1985, when Pope John Paul II elevated the shrine to minor basilica status, Rankweil has served as the principal Marian pilgrimage destination of Vorarlberg. On the first of May each year, thousands gather for the Vorarlberger Landeswallfahrtstag, the state pilgrimage day, when the Bishop of Feldkirch leads processions through streets decorated with birch branches and Alpine flowers.

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

The earliest fortress church stood on Liebfrauenberg around 700 AD, guarding the approach to the Walgau valley. Documentary evidence from the ninth century confirms a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary already drew pilgrims to the heights. The church weathered centuries of conflict—fortifications added after 1470 turned the sanctuary into a defensible refuge during the constant turmoil between warring factions. Thick walls and a commanding position made Rankweil's pilgrimage church one of the few in the region that doubled as a fortress. The present basilica preserves the accumulated devotion of centuries. In 1657–1658, builders constructed the Loretokapelle as a replica of the Santa Casa in Loreto, housing it within the larger church as a church-within-a-church. The Gnadenkapelle, rebuilt in 1757, received its gilded Rococo altar from the Feldkirch sculptor Josef Spalt, who created a theatrical setting for the venerated image. Major restoration work from 1980 to 1986 uncovered and preserved medieval frescoes long hidden beneath whitewash. In 2017, the American artist David Reed designed new stained glass windows that cast contemporary light through ancient stone. The Gnadenbild—the miraculous image—is a carved linden Madonna dating to approximately 1460–1470, attributed to the workshop of Johannes Rueland. Pilgrims have sought her intercession for healing since at least the late fifteenth century, and centuries of ex-votos document answered prayers. The silver processional cross, carried in processions since the eighteenth century, conceals a much older treasure: its Byzantine-Romanesque wooden core, likely crafted in Pisa during the twelfth century, contains a relic of the True Cross. The Fridolin-Stein in its small cell beneath the church draws pilgrims suffering from joint ailments, who touch the impressions said to have been formed by the saint's knees during his night of prayer before raising Urso from the dead.

☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Rankweil

Basilika Rankweil

Pfarr- und Wallfahrtskirche Unsere Liebe Frau Mariä Heimsuchung The basilica crowns Liebfrauenberg like a crown jewel set above the Rhine Valley, its fortified walls testifying to centuries when pilgrimage and defense were inseparable necessities. Builders established the first fortress church around 700 AD, and successive generations expanded, fortified, and embellished it until the structure became what pilgrims encounter today: a sanctuary where Romanesque foundations support Gothic vaulting beneath Baroque ornament. The 1980–1986 restoration revealed medieval frescoes that had lain hidden for centuries, adding another layer to the visible history. David Reed's 2017 stained glass windows cast contemporary light through this palimpsest of devotion. Address Liebfrauenberg 10, 6830 Rankweil GPS 47.2699563, 9.6440933 Map Google Maps Web basilika-rankweil.at

Gnadenkapelle

Chapel of Grace Within the basilica, the Gnadenkapelle houses Rankweil's most venerated treasure: the carved linden Madonna attributed to the workshop of Johannes Rueland, dating to approximately 1460–1470. Josef Spalt of Feldkirch created the gilded Rococo altar in 1757, framing the image in theatrical splendor. Pilgrims kneel before the Gnadenbild seeking healing and intercession, continuing a devotion documented since the late fifteenth century. The accumulated ex-votos surrounding the chapel testify to centuries of answered prayers.

Loretokapelle

Constructed in 1657–1658, this chapel replicates the Santa Casa of Loreto—the house tradition holds was transported by angels from Nazareth to Italy. The Rankweil Loretokapelle creates a church-within-a-church, a pilgrimage within a pilgrimage. Pilgrims entering the dim, enclosed space find themselves symbolically transported to the house where the Annunciation occurred. The devotion to Loreto spread throughout the Catholic world during the Counter-Reformation, and Rankweil's chapel stands among the finest examples in the Alpine region.

Fridolinszelle

In a small chamber beneath the church, pilgrims find the Fridolin-Stein—a block of quartz marble bearing impressions said to have been formed by St. Fridolin's knees during his night of prayer before raising Urso from the dead. Those suffering from joint ailments have sought healing here for centuries, touching the stone where the missionary's knees once pressed into rock. The cell preserves the memory of Fridolin's legendary vigil, when prayer transformed stone itself into a witness of faith.

Ölberggrotte

The Ölberggrotte recreates Christ's agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, inviting pilgrims to contemplate the night before the Passion. Life-sized figures depict Jesus at prayer while his disciples sleep, unaware of what morning will bring. The grotto provides a station for meditation along the pilgrimage route, connecting Marian devotion to the central mysteries of salvation.

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

Vorarlberger Landeswallfahrtstag — May 1

On the first of May, Rankweil becomes the spiritual heart of Vorarlberg. Thousands of pilgrims from across the state converge on Liebfrauenberg for the Landeswallfahrtstag, the annual state pilgrimage day. The Bishop of Feldkirch presides over the solemn High Mass at 9:00 AM, preceded by earlier Masses at 6:00 and 7:30 AM for those who walked through the night. Streets leading to the basilica bloom with birch branches and Alpine flowers, and the faithful fill not only the church but the surrounding grounds. At 4:00 PM, Marian devotions close the day's formal celebrations. The Landeswallfahrtstag has occurred annually for generations, surviving wars and upheavals to remain the largest Catholic gathering in Austria's westernmost state.

Mariä Heimsuchung — July 2

The Feast of the Visitation celebrates Mary's journey to visit her cousin Elizabeth, and Rankweil—whose full dedication includes "Mariä Heimsuchung"—marks this day with particular solemnity. The feast commemorates Mary's act of pilgrimage, traveling across the hill country of Judea, making it especially fitting for a pilgrimage church. Pilgrims ascending Liebfrauenberg on July 2 walk in conscious imitation of Mary's own journey to the hill country, where Elizabeth greeted her with the words that became part of the Hail Mary.

🛏️ Where to Stay

Hotel Hoher Freschen ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Modern hotel directly opposite Rankweil station, offering views of the basilica from upper floors. The restaurant, garden terrace, and extensive wellness facilities make this the most comfortable base for pilgrims. Free parking and WiFi throughout. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel Hotel Restaurant Rössle ⭐⭐⭐ — Family-run property in Röthis, three kilometers from Rankweil, set in peaceful gardens. The traditional restaurant serves regional Austrian cuisine, and the hotel offers free parking with electric vehicle charging. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel

🚗 Getting There

By Air: Zurich Airport (ZRH) lies 120 km west, with excellent rail connections to Rankweil. Innsbruck Airport (INN), 150 km east, offers an alternative for those arriving from within Austria or Germany. By Train: Rankweil station sits on the main ÖBB line through the Rhine Valley, served by S-Bahn line S1, regional trains R5, and REX 1 express services. Direct connections run from Feldkirch (7 minutes), Bregenz (25 minutes), and Innsbruck (2 hours). The station stands directly opposite Hotel Hoher Freschen, at the foot of Liebfrauenberg. On Foot from the Station: Two routes ascend to the basilica. The steep direct path climbs through forest in 15 minutes—a true pilgrim's approach. The gentler route via Ringstrasse and the cemetery adds 5 minutes but eases the grade for those carrying heavy packs or traveling with difficulty. By Car: From the A14 motorway (Rheintal Autobahn), take the Rankweil exit and follow signs to Liebfrauenberg. Parking is available near the base of the hill.

📚 Further Reading

Books: Elsner, Susanne and Walter. Pilgern in Vorarlberg: 30 Wallfahrtsziele und Besinnungswege — Comprehensive pilgrim guide covering Rankweil and 29 other Vorarlberg destinations, with detailed route descriptions and spiritual background. (German) Online Resources: Basilika Rankweil — Official sanctuary website with Mass times, history, and visitor information. (Basilika Rankweil, German) Pilgern in Vorarlberg — Diocesan pilgrimage portal with information on guided pilgrimages and the Jakobsweg. (Katholische Kirche Vorarlberg, German)

🔗 Useful Links

Basilika Rankweil — Official website with Mass schedules, feast day information, and sanctuary history. Catholic Church Vorarlberg – Pilgrimage — Diocesan resources for pilgrims, including guided walks and spiritual preparation. Vorarlberg Tourism — Regional tourism portal with accommodation, transport, and cultural information.

🥾 Pilgrim Routes

Vorarlberger Jakobsweg — Rankweil lies on the Austrian section of the Way of St. James, the Vorarlberger Jakobsweg, which enters the state from Tirol over the Arlberg Pass and continues westward to the Swiss border at Feldkirch. Pilgrims walking toward Santiago de Compostela pass through Rankweil as one of the final Austrian stations, ascending Liebfrauenberg before descending into the Rhine Valley. GPS tracks are available at camino-europe.eu.

🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations

Maria Bildstein (15 km) — The baroque basilica on its wooded hilltop draws pilgrims to venerate a medieval image of Our Lady. The sanctuary crowns a hill visible from much of the Vorarlberg lowlands, and the climb to the church forms part of the pilgrimage experience. Feldkirch (5 km) — The medieval town at the foot of the Schattenburg preserves the Cathedral of St. Nicholas and serves as the seat of the Diocese of Feldkirch. The atmospheric old town offers pilgrims a pause between sacred destinations. Bregenz (30 km) — The capital of Vorarlberg sits on the shores of Lake Constance, with the pilgrimage chapel of Gebhardsberg overlooking the city and lake from its forested heights.

🪶 Closing Reflection

"Going beyond the surface, Mary 'sees' the work of God in history with the eyes of faith. This is why she is blessed, because she believed."

— Pope Benedict XVI, Homily for the Feast of the Visitation, May 31, 2008