Mariazell

By · Steiermark, 🇦🇹 Østerrike

Mariazell is a small town in the Styrian Alps and Austria's most important pilgrimage destination. Its basilica holds a small wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, which has drawn pilgrims for more than 800 years, from Austria, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia and further afield.

Besides the pilgrimage, Mariazell is a quiet town for a mountain stay, with a lake nearby, small ski slopes and hiking in forested hills.

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Beste reisetidspunkt

May to October is best for the basilica, the lake and hiking. Pilgrim crowds peak around 15 August and 8 September. December has a well-known Advent market. Winter has small ski slopes and cross-country trails.

Velg en måned

Typisk vær i januar

Dårlig

0° (føles som -5°) · ekstremer -15°–7°
-7° om natten
12 regnværsdager
4 soldager
3 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 1 · lav

Typisk vær i februar

Dårlig

2° (føles som -3°) · ekstremer -15°–10°
-6° om natten
12 regnværsdager
6 soldager
4 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Lett bris
UV-indeks 1 · lav

Typisk vær i mars

Dårlig

6° (føles som 2°) · ekstremer -10°–15°
-3° om natten
12 regnværsdager
7 soldager
5 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 3 · moderat

Typisk vær i april

Dårlig

12° (føles som 8°) · ekstremer -5°–20°
1° om natten
12 regnværsdager
7 soldager
6 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 4 · moderat

Typisk vær i mai

Brukbart

16° (føles som 14°) · ekstremer 1°–23°
6° om natten
17 regnværsdager
6 soldager
6 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 5 · moderat

Typisk vær i juni

Bra

20° (føles som 19°) · ekstremer 4°–27°
10° om natten
17 regnværsdager
7 soldager
7 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 6 · høy

Typisk vær i juli

Bra

22° (føles som 21°) · ekstremer 7°–28°
12° om natten
18 regnværsdager
8 soldager
7 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 6 · høy

Typisk vær i august

Bra

22° (føles som 21°) · ekstremer 7°–29°
11° om natten
15 regnværsdager
9 soldager
7 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 5 · moderat

Typisk vær i september

Bra

17° (føles som 15°) · ekstremer 2°–24°
7° om natten
13 regnværsdager
8 soldager
5 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 4 · moderat

Typisk vær i oktober

Dårlig

12° (føles som 9°) · ekstremer -3°–20°
3° om natten
11 regnværsdager
8 soldager
5 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 2 · lav

Typisk vær i november

Dårlig

6° (føles som 2°) · ekstremer -8°–14°
-1° om natten
11 regnværsdager
3 soldager
3 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 1 · lav

Typisk vær i desember

Dårlig

1° (føles som -4°) · ekstremer -13°–8°
-5° om natten
13 regnværsdager
3 soldager
3 soltimer per dag
Tørr luft
Stille vind
UV-indeks 1 · lav

Klimadata: NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Hovedseverdigheter

Basilika Mariazell is a Gothic church rebuilt in baroque style, with a silver altar around the miraculous statue.
Erlaufsee is a mountain lake a few kilometres away, for swimming, boating and walks.
Mariazeller Heimathaus presents local history and pilgrim traditions.
The Marienwasserfall is a small waterfall on a forest walk.
Herz-Marien-Karmel is a convent near the town.
The Bürgeralpe cable car climbs to a viewpoint with a summit walk and winter slopes.
The Mariazellerbahn, a narrow-gauge railway, runs from St. Pölten through the hills.
Local gingerbread, honey and wax craft shops line the streets near the basilica.

Utvalgte lister

Bwag / CC BY-SA 3.0 at

Mariazell Unmissables

Mariazell centers on the Basilica Mariä Geburt, a significant Roman Catholic pilgrimage site featuring a unique blend of Gothic and Baroque architecture. The surrounding landscape includes the Erlaufsee mountain lake and the Marienwasserfall, which are accessible via the historic Museumstramway. Cultural landmarks such as Schloß Brandhof, a Biedermeier-style estate, and the Erzherzog-Johann-Aussichtswarte provide insight into the region's imperial history and offer panoramic views of the Styrian-Lower Austrian Limestone Alps.

10 steder

Opplevelser verdt å få med seg

Visit the basilica.
Ride the Mariazellerbahn.
Walk or swim at the Erlaufsee.
Ride the Bürgeralpe cable car.
Buy gingerbread and honey.

Turer og aktiviteter

Mariazell – Kart

Dagsturer

Mürzzuschlag is about 50 minutes away by car.
Graz is about 1 hour 45 minutes away by car.
Vienna is about 2 hours away by car.
Gesäuse National Park is about 1 hour 15 minutes away by car.
Schladming is about 1 hour 45 minutes away by car.

Steder å utforske

Mürzzuschlag and Graz are the nearest preferred destinations.

Reise dit

By air: Vienna Airport is about 2 hours away by car. Graz is about 1 hour 45 minutes.
By train: The Mariazellerbahn runs from St. Pölten and takes about 2 hours 30 minutes. A bus route also runs from Vienna, Graz and Bruck an der Mur. Check times on ÖBB.
By car: Reach Mariazell by the B20 and B23 roads from St. Pölten, Bruck an der Mur or Kapfenberg.

Komme seg rundt

The centre is walkable, and the basilica is in the middle of it. Local buses link the lake and cable car. A car helps for the wider region.

Kjøring

A car helps for the lake and surrounding villages. Mountain roads are narrow and can close in heavy snow. Winter tyres or chains are required in snow. Motorways in Austria need a vignette.

Mat og drikke

Mariazell is known for Lebkuchen, gingerbread, and honey products, and for Mariazeller Magentropfen, a herbal liqueur. Styrian dishes include Backhendl, fried chicken, and Kürbiskernöl, pumpkin seed oil. Game is common in autumn.

Middag

Wiener SchnitzelA thin, breaded and pan-fried veal cutlet, traditionally served with potato salad or parsley potatoes and a wedge of lemon.

TafelspitzBoiled beef in broth, served with roast potatoes and a sauce of apples and horseradish — a favourite of Emperor Franz Joseph.

Viennese Goulash Wiener SaftgulaschA rich beef stew slow-cooked with onions and paprika, typically served with a bread dumpling or bread roll.

Småretter og gatemat

KäsekrainerA grilled pork sausage studded with melty cheese, a classic order at Vienna's ubiquitous Würstelstand (sausage stands).

Sausage Stand Snack Würstel vom WürstelstandGrilled or boiled sausages (Bratwurst, Frankfurter, Bosna) served with mustard, bread and a pickle from street kiosks.

Søtsaker og desserter

ApfelstrudelThin pastry rolled around spiced apples, raisins and breadcrumbs, usually served warm with vanilla sauce or cream.

SachertorteA dense chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam under a dark chocolate glaze, famously served with unsweetened whipped cream.

KaiserschmarrnA fluffy shredded pancake caramelised with sugar and dusted with icing sugar, served with plum or apple compote.

MarillenknödelApricot dumplings wrapped in potato or quark dough, rolled in buttery breadcrumbs — a Wachau and Viennese summer specialty.

Drikke

Viennese Melange Wiener MelangeThe signature Viennese coffee: espresso topped with steamed milk and milk foam, the centrepiece of coffeehouse culture.

Grüner VeltlinerAustria's flagship crisp, peppery white wine, widely poured in Vienna's Heuriger (wine taverns).

SturmA cloudy, lightly alcoholic partially-fermented grape must, available only for a few weeks in autumn.

Sikkerhet og helse

Mariazell is very safe. Crowds peak on pilgrim days, so book rooms ahead. Tap water is clean and safe to drink. The emergency number is 112. The mountain rescue number is 140.

Historie

Legend says a monk named Magnus brought a wooden statue of the Virgin to this spot in 1157. A chapel grew into a pilgrimage church, and Hungarian king Louis I added a Gothic building in the 14th century. The Habsburgs supported the shrine, and it became a symbol for Catholic Central Europe. The railway opened in 1907.