Discover Plain

Maria Plain brings together several distinct themes for planning your trip: the architectural history of the Chapel of Origins, the miraculous image in the pilgrimage church and its first copy in the Chapel of Origins, and the Calvary with its path layout. You can distinguish between artworks, architecture, a designed path and an annual church event.

Chapel and artworks in Maria Plain

The Chapel of Origins in Maria Plain was built of stone in 1710 by Sebastian Stumpfegger. Its altar structure houses the first copy of the miraculous image of Maria Plain. Johann Pereth created this copy in 1653 on commission from Rudolf von Grimming. The two dates refer to different events: 1653 to the creation of the copy, and 1710 to the construction of the chapel. This allows the history of the image and the architectural history to be considered as separate points of reference, without conflating their dates.

The high altar of the Maria Plain pilgrimage church is a separate artistic feature: the miraculous image of Maria Plain stands at its centre. The image thus appears in two different contexts: at the centre of the high altar and as the first copy in the altar structure of the Chapel of Origins. If you are interested in religious art, this distinction helps you tell the two altar settings apart.

Calvary: path and crucifixion group

The Calvary of Maria Plain was built in the 17th century and depicts the Passion of Christ with life-size replicas of the Crucifixion scene. The route is also described in specific terms: a gravel path leads over steps and past four flanking chapels to a covered crucifixion group. Both the depiction and the sequence along the path are therefore part of this site. The life-size replicas give the Crucifixion scene its scale; the covered group marks the end of the path.

Route and visiting conditions

In Bergheim, a path leads from the school car park via Pfarrweg to the Maria Plain pilgrimage basilica, then continues via Radeck and Kasern to the “der Jägerwirt” inn. For orientation, you can divide the route into two sections: first, from the school car park to the basilica, then onward via the places named to the inn. This keeps the starting point, intermediate destination and onward route clear.

Radeck Castle is privately owned and is not open to visitors. The chapel can be visited by prior arrangement. If you would like to plan a visit to the chapel, enquire in advance about the possibility. This access restriction should be distinguished from the route descriptions: it applies to Radeck Castle and the chapel there.

Date of the Coronation Mass

The Coronation Mass is performed every year in Maria Plain on the fifth Sunday after Pentecost. If you would like to plan your trip around this date, check the date for the year of your visit. This lets you plan the church event as a distinct point in time, rather than confuse it with the permanent architectural and artistic features.

Discover more destinations: Köstendorf near Salzburg, Gois, Niederalm, Anthering, Fuschl am See, Eugendorf, Habach, Obertrum am See

See the full travel overview: Salzburg-Flachgau.