Basilica of Mariatrost

Basilica of Mariatrost

The Basilica of Mariatrost (Basilika Mariatrost) is a famous Marian pilgrimage site in Styria, Austria (second in importance only to the Basilica of Mariazell), located in the Mariatrost district of Graz. On October 28, 1999, the church was elevated to the status of a minor basilica.

The Basilica of Mariatrost was originally built by the Stengg father and son in 1714 and completed in 1724. The basilica stands atop Purberg Hill at an altitude of 469 meters in the northeastern part of Graz and is regarded as the most popular Catholic church in the area for weddings and pilgrimages, also known as the "jewel of art among pilgrimage churches." To reach the basilica, visitors must climb the 216 steps of the Angelus Stairway. It is a Baroque structure, with two 61-meter-high bell towers and a dome that are visible from afar. The ceiling frescoes painted by Johann Baptist Scheith and Johann Jakob Schoy are particularly notable. The Gothic-period (circa 1465) statue of the Virgin Mary at the high altar was redesigned in the Baroque style by Bernhard Echter in 1695. The basilica has been administered successively by the Pauline Fathers (1708–1786) and the Franciscans (1842–1996). The exquisite architecture of the Basilica of Mariatrost, along with its treasured statue of the Virgin Mary, lecture hall, frescoes, and more, attract numerous visitors and pilgrims for tours and worship.

Mariatrost Basilica

Must-visit reason: Graz’s most popular Catholic church for weddings and pilgrimages

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/region where the attraction is located: Austria[Austria]

Province/state where the attraction is located: Styria [Styria]

City where the attraction is located: Graz [Graz]