Pilgrimage Maria Weißenstein
Place: Weißenstein
The history of this pilgrimage site dates back to the year 1553, when Leonhard Weissensteiner had a vision of the virgin Mary, who healed him of his sickness. She said that he should show his gratitude by building a chapel, where believers can come and entreat her for help in times of trouble.
Since the
original chapel quickly turned into a crowded pilgrimage site, it was necessary to build a real church. Thus, the church was built in 1673. 1719 -1722, the church was renovated by the architects Johann Martin Gump and Agostino Maria Abfalterer. In 1753, Giuseppe Dellai renovated it again and gave it a stronger baroque style. Emperor Josef II issued an edict to abolish the Weissenstein monastery, tear down three towers and auction off the entire inventory. In 1800, reconstruction of the building was started again.
The basilica in baroque style was completed in 1654. It is part of the façade of the monastery, cared for today by friars of the Servite Order.
The church features the
devotional image of the grieving Madonna with the dead Son lying in her lap, the original chapel, which was built by Leonhard, the high altar, which is overlaid with beaten gold and silver, beautiful frescoes on the arches (by Adam Mölk), side altars (by Pußjäger) and other artwork by A. Silber and F. Haider.
To enter the church, take a side staircase, where hundreds of votive signs are stored. Next to the church is the chapel of St. Peregrin Laziosi, patron saint of cancer patients.
In August, 1885, the image of the grieving Madonna, which Leonhard Weissensteiner had kept in the chapel, was crowned again by Giovanni Giacomo della Bona, Bishop of Trient, in a ceremony attended by over 130 priests and 15,000 believers. Today the friars of the Servite Order live in the monastery and take care of a hostel.
In July 1988, Pope John Paul II visited Weissenstein monastery. And he was not the first pope to visit. Pope John Paul I. spent his summer vacation here.
Entrance: OPENING TIMES OF THE CHURCH: 7.30 am – 7 pm without interruption (year-round)
Details on Maria Weissenstein Pigrimage Site
Highlight: Steinegg Observatory
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