Mariastein: Pilgrimage and Art

Mariastein has a distinctly cultural focus: its pilgrimage church, castle museum and chapels bring together architectural history, religious art and pilgrimage. This profile is complemented by a cross-country ski trail and a hike whose starting point is below the church. If you are planning a stay at a hotel in Mariastein, these places and activities can help you plan your visit.

Pilgrimage Church and Castle Museum

Mariastein Pilgrimage Church was built around 1360. The Tyrolean regalia are displayed there, including the Archduke’s hat and sceptre. Mariastein Castle Museum is also located in the pilgrimage church. It presents historical artefacts, religious artworks and exhibits on the development of the pilgrimage church and its surroundings. The museum thus focuses both on individual objects and on the history of the pilgrimage site.

The miraculous image is a Gothic limewood carving, made around 1450 by an unknown master from the Salzburg-Bavarian art circle. The church and the image therefore date from different periods: the pilgrimage church was built around 1360, and the miraculous image was created some nine decades later. This chronology helps distinguish the two without treating them as a single work.

Chapels and Access

Mariastein Castle Chapel has a Gothic ribbed vault and a Late Gothic Pietà. The Chapel of Grace is another separate point of interest: from the old castle gate, you can reach it via a 140-step spiral staircase. Visitors who include both chapels in their visit will find different aspects of sacred art and architecture here—from the vault and Pietà to the carved miraculous image.

Practical Visit Planning

The Pilgrimage Church of Our Lady of Mariastein is open continuously from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm in summer and from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm in winter. Check the seasonal opening hours before your visit. The Knights’ Hall at Mariastein Castle Museum can only be visited on a guided tour and by prior arrangement, so make sure to arrange your visit in advance. Free parking is available directly below the pilgrimage church. Follow the signs on site when you arrive.

Cross-Country Ski Loop or Hike

The Mariastein trail is an easy cross-country ski trail, 2.3 kilometres long. It runs directly to Schneerosental as a connecting trail and can also be skied as a loop. There are therefore two options: a connection to Schneerosental or a loop in Mariastein. Snow and operating conditions are seasonal; check the current situation in advance.

If you are planning a hike instead of cross-country skiing, the “Mariastein Loop via Moosbach” starts at the car park below the pilgrimage church. The focus differs accordingly: the ski trail offers a short winter route rated as easy, with the option of either a connecting trail or a loop; for the hike, the starting point below the church is clearly specified.

Landscape and Character of the Village

Mariastein is situated on a peaceful high plateau with plenty of green spaces and forests, and has a rural character. At the same time, the village is located on a steep-sided, ten-metre-high rock in the Tyrolean Unterland. These descriptions of the village and landscape add a concrete impression of the surroundings to its cultural focus.

Discover more destinations: Auffach, Söll, Alpbach, Oberau Wildschönau, Wörgl, Embach, Thiersee, Brixlegg.

See the main travel overview: Kufstein.