Miliarium - Austria

The parish church of Stockerau, dedicated to St. Stephen, likely dates back to 1064 and is today one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Vienna, serving around 10,000 faithful. According to tradition, the Irish pilgrim St. Koloman was mistaken for a spy and executed here in 1012 during his journey to Jerusalem. Legend says that the tree on which he was hanged miraculously sprouted anew, a sign of his martyrdom. Koloman was initially buried in Stockerau before his relics were transferred to Melk. Today, the church features an evocative cycle of paintings dedicated to him, created by Adi Holzer in 1986.

Founded in 1114 by Margrave Leopold III, now the patron saint of Austria, Klosterneuburg Abbey is one of the oldest monasteries in the country. For over 900 years, Augustinian canons have maintained a living faith here, combining community life with pastoral work. Overlooking the Danube, the abbey captivates with its history, art, and spirituality. Among its masterpieces are the Verdun Altar (1181), with 51 enamelled panels depicting the history of salvation, and the archducal hat of 1616, a symbol of its connection to the Habsburgs. Today, Klosterneuburg also houses a contemporary art gallery and Austria’s oldest winery, where tradition and modernity meet. A visit here is a journey through faith, culture, and flavours.

A symbol of Vienna and a national shrine, St. Stephen’s Cathedral is Austria’s most important cathedral. Founded in the 12th century and expanded by the Habsburgs, including Rudolph IV and Frederick III, it is a Gothic masterpiece that narrates centuries of imperial and spiritual history. The famous south tower, 136 meters high, was completed in 1433 and was then the tallest free-standing structure in Europe. Today, you can still climb its 343 steps to admire Vienna from above. Inside, it houses precious relics, vestments, altars, and the tombs of Habsburg emperors and dukes, including Frederick III and Rudolph IV. The north tower, never completed, holds the Pummerin, Austria’s largest bell. With its colourful roof tiles and the double-headed eagle emblem, the “Steffl” is the symbol of Viennese faith and identity.

Just 15 minutes from Vienna, the Cistercian Abbey of Heiligenkreuz is one of Europe’s oldest monasteries, founded in 1133 by Leopold III of Babenberg. For nearly 900 years, it has been a vibrant spiritual centre, nestled in the Vienna Woods and a landmark for pilgrims, hikers, and visitors. Over 100 monks live here, active in pastoral care and education, and world-renowned for their Gregorian chant: their “Chant” CDs have introduced Latin choral prayer to millions. During your visit, you can discover the abbey church, the courtyard, the well house, and the chapter house, where the last of the Babenbergs rests. Every day, you can participate in solemn prayer, with particularly atmospheric moments at noon and sunset. Heiligenkreuz is a place where silence becomes music and history intertwines with faith, along the paths of the Via Romea Strata.

Nestled in the pre-Alpine forests of Lower Austria, the Cistercian Abbey of Lilienfeld is a crucial stop along the Via Sacra and the Via Romea Strata from Vienna to Mariazell. Founded in 1202 by Duke Leopold VI of Babenberg, it houses Austria’s largest collegiate church and a monumental Calvary, recently restored. For over 800 years, the monks have followed the Benedictine rule of “ora et labora” (pray and work), with choral prayer at the heart of their vocation. The abbey has been a destination for kings, emperors, and pilgrims seeking strength and contemplation. Today, Lilienfeld is also a cultural and hospitality centre. Visitors can explore historic areas like the medieval cellarium and the monastic dormitory, participate in events such as the Summer Academy, and taste local specialities in the Abbey Tavern. A place where time stands still, and spirituality intertwines with art and nature.

Visitors to Mariazell are struck by the rich tapestry of languages, peoples, and cultures that converge here. This site holds over 850 years of history, yet it thrives on the shared energy and faith of all Europe. Generations of pilgrims have left their mark: votive treasures, sacred images, and offerings tell stories of their hopes and gratitude. At its heart is the famous statue of the Madonna of Grace, venerated as “Magna Mater Austriae” (Great Mother of Austria), “Magna Hungarorum Domina” (Great Lady of the Hungarians), and “Mater Gentium Slavorum” (Mother of the Slavic Peoples) – a symbol of unity and a guide on life’s journey. Beyond the world-renowned Marian basilica, the entire Mariazell region is dotted with churches, chapels, and places of silence that invite reflection and prayer.

In the heart of the upper Mur valley, the Benedictine Monastery of Seckau is a place of silence and spirituality with ancient roots. Founded in 1142, it was initially home to Augustinian canons and in 1218 became the cathedral of the Diocese of Seckau, a role now remembered by the double name of the Diocese of Graz-Seckau. Today, the Benedictine community lives by the rule “Ora et labora et lege” (Pray, work, and study). The complex houses a highly regarded full-time secondary school, founded in 1931, with the motto “With head, hand, and heart.” Don’t miss: the Romanesque basilica, the miraculous image of Seckau (12th century), the Habsburg mausoleum (16th century), and the pilgrimage church of Maria Schnee on the Hochalm. Despite centuries of change, the monastery remains a spiritual landmark for the entire Styrian region.

Located along the Hemmaweg (Way of St. Hemma), between Admont and Gurk, the Benedictine Abbey of St. Lambrecht has been a spiritual and cultural focal point for the Murau region for nearly 950 years. Considered the mother monastery of Mariazell, it is also the starting point of the “Sentiero dei Fondatori” (Founders’ Path). The abbey complex includes a monumental Gothic collegiate church, St. Peter’s Chapel, a Romanesque ossuary, and a Baroque monastic building. Don’t miss the monastery museum, with collections of sacred art, ethnography, and the famous bird museum of Father Blasius Hanf. The abbey garden and the “SCHOOL OF THINGS” meeting centre offer space for events, seminars, and moments of reflection. St. Lambrecht is a place where art, nature, and spirituality meet, welcoming pilgrims and visitors in every season.

Gurk Cathedral, built between 1140 and 1200, is one of Austria’s most important Romanesque basilicas. Imposing and solemn, it features a twin-tower façade, a wide transept, and a nave with three apses. Beneath the choir lies the famous 100-column crypt, consecrated in 1174, which houses the tomb of St. Hemma of Gurk, a central figure in Carinthian spirituality. Inside, wooden sculptures and reliefs narrate her life and veneration. Next to the cathedral is Gurk Abbey, home to the Gurk Treasury – the diocesan museum of the Catholic Church of Carinthia – and the JUFA pilgrim hotel, which welcomes travellers along the region’s spiritual paths. Gurk is a place that combines art, faith, and hospitality in the heart of Carinthia.

The church of Mariae Himmelfahrt (Assumption of Mary) in Maria Saal, in the heart of the Zollfeld plain, is one of Carinthia’s most imposing Gothic religious buildings. It stands in a panoramic position, surrounded by walls, towers, and moats, and is an ancient Marian shrine founded as early as the 8th century by Bishop Modestus. The current late-Gothic church was built between 1430 and 1460, with two massive towers and a tripartite nave. Inside, it houses authentic masterpieces from all eras: the Baroque high altar (1714) with a Gothic statue of the Madonna and Child (c. 1425), a fresco of the Epiphany from 1435, and two late-Gothic winged altars from the 16th century, dedicated to St. George and Arndorf. Maria Saal is a historical and spiritual destination, a landmark for pilgrims and lovers of sacred art.

First mentioned in 1090, the sanctuary of Maria Gail, near the Gail River in Carinthia, has been a documented pilgrimage site since 1436. The church, with Romanesque and Gothic elements, was rebuilt in 1606 after an earthquake, taking on its current appearance. At the centre of the majestic high altar is the image of grace: a Madonna and Child dating from just before 1600. Next to it, on the north wall of the nave, stands a precious Gothic winged altar from 1415, with a carved scene of the Coronation of the Virgin and painted reliefs. Among other works, three statues depict St. Mary, St. Barbara, and St. Margaret: artistic testimonies of a long devotional tradition. Maria Gail is today a destination of silence and spirituality, following in the footsteps of pilgrims who turn to the Madonna of the Gail here.