Mariazell
Village of Mariazell © TVB Mariazeller Land
For this #WahrzeichenWednesday, we're are headed back to Styria #Steiermark for a visit to the beautiful alpine village of #Mariazell. Although a small town of only about 3600 residents, Mariazell draws in over 1.5 million visitors as major pilgrimage destination for Catholics across Central Europe and the world. It is the most significant pilgrimage site in Austria with one of the most significant Marian shrines in Europe. During the Counter-Reformation, the Habsburgs made Mariazell the spiritual center of the empire with Emperor Leopold I encouraging pilgrimages and proclaiming Mariazell to be the empire's sole "national shrine."
Mariazell became such a popular destination in the 19th century that work began on the #Mariazellerbahn railway as early as 1895 to connect St. Pölten in Lower Austria with Mariazell. Work on the railway was completed in 1907 and it remains a popular tourist route today.
Mariazell is also beloved in winter as a hub for skiing and snowboarding.
© TVB Mariazeller Land (photo 1); Diözese Graz-Seckau/Schiffer (photo 2); Basilica Mariazell / Johann G (photo 3); Mostviertel Tourismus / weinfranz.at (photo 4); Wikipedia (photos 5, 6)