Marija Bistrica – Shrine, Pilgrimage and Culture

Shrine and Marian Pilgrimage

The pilgrimage tradition of the shrine in Marija Bistrica is associated with the statue of the Black Madonna. It was found on 15 July 1684. The shrine is open to the faithful from early spring to late autumn. Marija Bistrica is home to the largest Marian shrine of the Croatian people. Its present-day appearance was designed by architect Herman Bollé. The collections include religious objects made of metal and textiles, a library and Baroque devotional images.

Marija Bistrica is a meeting point for several Marian pilgrimage routes, including routes from Sv. Ivan Zelina and Zagreb. A marked route leads from Krašić via Zagreb and Marija Bistrica to Lepoglava. The different starting and ending points give each route its own course.

Crafts and Pilgrimage Activities

Visitors can experience demonstrations and workshops on traditional crafts registered in Marija Bistrica; individual programs may vary. In the wider destination of Općina Marija Bistrica, the Licitar craft in the center of Marija Bistrica includes an interactive demonstration, a workshop on making Licitars, and a tasting of Gvirc, a special honey drink. Confirm workshop arrangements before your trip. During major pilgrimages, medenjaci, licitarska srca and gvirc are available.

More places and routes in the wider destination of Općina Marija Bistrica

In the wider destination of Općina Marija Bistrica, Bistrička Kalvarija lies opposite the Basilica of Majke Božje Bistričke. Its fifteen Stations of the Cross were installed in two phases between 1943 and 1990. The sculpture complex is a collaborative work by Ante Orlić, Marija Ujević, Stanko Jančić, Krunoslav Bošnjak, Ante Starčević and Josip Poljan.

The Marija Bistrica Visitor Center is dedicated to preserving traditional skills related to wooden children's toys and Licitar. The associated traditions were included on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Licitar Ethnographic Collection covers the history of production, its tools and terminology, as well as traditional craft production techniques.

In the wider destination of Općina Marija Bistrica, Park drvenih skulptura Marija Bistrica is located on the Vinski Vrh tourist road, 500 meters from the main square in Marija Bistrica. It features more than 100 sculptures, mostly with sacred themes. Also in the wider destination of Općina Marija Bistrica, Zvonosvir is located near the open-air church of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac. The metal structure consists of 23 large and small bells, whose sound can be heard daily.

The Four Chapels route in the wider destination of Općina Marija Bistrica connects the chapels of St. Ladislaus, St. Mary Magdalene and St. Roch, as well as the chapel on Vinski Vrh; there are rest areas for cyclists along the route. It is an easy circular ride for recreational cyclists and families, starting in Marija Bistrica at the shrine of Majke Božje Bistričke. Check route conditions before setting off.

The Camino Hrvatsko Zagorje is a 56-kilometer route from Lepoglava to Marija Bistrica through Hrvatsko Zagorje. It connects natural and cultural attractions such as natural areas, thermal springs, museums, castles and wine roads. As route infrastructure may change, check the current route before traveling. The Marijanski hodočasnički put connects Marian shrines in Slovenia and Croatia; Marija Bistrica is a destination on these pilgrimage routes. The Zagrebački romarski put leads from Ksaver via Medvednica along former pilgrimage routes of Blessed Alojzije Stepinac to Marija Bistrica, returning via Marija Snježna to Markuševac.

In the wider destination of Općina Marija Bistrica, settlements and hamlets are located at various elevations on hills along the northeastern slopes of Medvednica. The municipality also includes the southern foothills below Sv. Matej in Medvednica Nature Park. In Hum Bistrički stands the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene: it dates from the 16th century, was restored in 1876, and contains a wooden Baroque retable with a painting of St. Mary Magdalene and statues of St. Joseph and St. John the Baptist.

Advent u Mariji Bistrici has been held every December since 2010 and includes a cultural and artistic program, a Christmas market and numerous workshops for children and adults. Check the dates for your travel year. When driving from Zagreb, take the A2 towards Zabok-Oroslavje, then Road 24 through Bedekovčina and Zlatar Bistrica to Marija Bistrica. Check current road conditions before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Podgrađe, Zlatar Bistrica.

Go to the wider travel guide: Općina Marija Bistrica.