Ollern – Village History and Pilgrimage Tradition

Ollern is a triangular village green settlement whose sacred memorial sites reveal different historical connections. Chapels, wayside shrines, a plague column and a peace cross bring together local history and religious tradition. These are joined by annual devotions and Masses, as well as pilgrimages in which Ollern takes part. When planning your trip, it is therefore worth looking at both the individual memorials and the occasions that recur at particular sites.

Wayside Shrines and Historical Memorial Sites

On the road towards Flachberg (Vlohberg) stands the wayside shrine “The Saviour in Distress and at the Meadow.” It is designed in the southern German style and is popularly known as the “Plague Cross.” The style and the familiar name refer to different aspects of the same monument: a named design and a local designation meet here. The wayside shrine can thus be identified both by its design and by the name by which it is known in Ollern.

The plague column commemorates the overcoming of the plague of 1683. After the plague of 1713, the residents of Ollern vowed to build a chapel. The two dates represent different historical connections: the column commemorates the overcoming of the plague of 1683, while the vow of 1713 is linked to the plan to build a chapel. This distinction helps keep the two forms of remembrance in local history separate.

A wayside shrine commemorating peace was erected by the fence. Previously, an icon of Saint Christopher had been housed there in a large, disused electricity cabinet; the cabinet was later reduced in size. Another memorial is the Peace Cross, which has stood in Ollern since 2017 and was consecrated by Father Mag. Jan Dudka. The two symbols of peace have different points of reference: for the wayside shrine, the icon’s former location is part of its history; for the Peace Cross, the year and its consecration are defining details.

Hubertus Chapel and Annual Celebrations

Hubertus Chapel in Ollern stands at the edge of the forest above the village, on the slope of the Riederberg. A historical parish entry describes it as a popular destination for walkers. A May devotion is held in front of the chapel every year. This gives the site two reasons to visit: the walking destination described in the historical entry and a religious celebration held there annually. If you would like to plan your trip around the May devotion, check the current dates.

Another annual celebration is the Florian Mass at the Florian wayside shrine on Freisingerstraße. It takes place at a different location from the May devotion in front of Hubertus Chapel. For planning purposes, this means that the chapel and the wayside shrine are associated with two separate annual occasions, each with its own location in Ollern.

Pilgrimage Tradition in Ollern

Ollern also takes part in the annual pilgrimages to Maria Anzbach; this tradition continues to be observed today. The exact dates may vary from year to year. Unlike the devotions and Masses tied to a particular chapel or wayside shrine, the focus here is on the pilgrimage itself. Ollern’s religious tradition thus encompasses both celebrations at individual sites and pilgrimages in which the village takes part. If you would like to plan your trip around a devotion, Mass or pilgrimage, check the current dates; pilgrimage dates in particular vary from year to year.

Discover more destinations: Trasdorf, Mitterstockstall, Mallon, Hütteldorf, Neustift Im Felde, Tulln An Der Donau, Preuwitz, Langenrohr

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