Pilgrimage Trails through Austria

Styria

Pilgrims’ Trails to Mariazell
The Mariazell network of pilgrim’s trails encompasses 1100 kilometers of trails through Vienna, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Burgenland, Styria and Carinthia and is comprised of several traditional pilgrims’ trails which all lead to the famous pilgrimage town of Mariazell.
Pilgrim’s Trails to Mariazell
Mariazell Tourist Board

Saint Hemma Trail: Pilgrimages in Murtal
Styria’s Hemma Pilgrimage Trail leads through an old cultivated and cultural landscape steeped in history. The demanding trail leads from Mariahof via Neumarkt, St. Marein and Therme Wildbad to Burg Dürnstein.
Pilgrims’ Trail in Styria

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Upper Austria

Via Nova
European Pilgrims’ Trail from Metten (Lower Bavaria) to St. Wolfgang (Upper Austria). One part of this “new” trail travel along historic pilgrims’ trails (St. Rupert and St. Wolfgang), the other is linked to Franz Jägerstätter/St. Radegund. Franz Jägerstätter was a farmer from St. Radegund who fought National Socialism. He died on 9th August 1943 in a prison in Brandenburg an der Havel.
Europäischer Pilgrims’ Trail - Via Nova

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SalzburgerLand

St. Rupert Pilgrim’s Trail
St. Rupert Pilgrims’ Trail offers plenty of interesting sections and towns en route making this a memorable trip for all dedicated pilgrims. The pilgrims’ trail leads from The European Monastery Gut Aich in St. Gilgen at Wolfgangsee to Bischofshofen, the town where Saint Rupert founded Maximilian’s Cell almost 1300 years ago. This is where the re-Christianization and cultural development of Salzburg started. The trail has a length of 110 kilometers and takes between 5 and 6 days to complete. You can also take 1-day hikes along the route.
This new pilgrims’ trail was planned by Hermann Hinterhölzl, innkeeper on Hochgründeck.
www.pilgerwege.at

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SalzburgerLand/Tirol

The Austrian Route of St. James
There are three main routes leading in a western direction through Austria. Trails designated as “Route of St. James” are trails which have a historically verifiable history of pilgrimage, confirmed by buildings, patron saints, documents and the like. Since in the old days pilgrims did not exclusively follow those routes you will still find several detours along the way.
Route of St. James in SalzburgerLand
Jakobsweg in Tirol

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Upper Austria/SalzburgerLand/Carinthia

Donau-Alpen-Adria Pilgrims’ Trail for Cyclists
This demanding route caters to the athletes among the pilgrims. The trail links the pilgrimage towns of Maria Hilf near Passau (Germany) with Großgmain, Altenmarkt, Mariapfarr, Maria Gail (Austria) and Barbana bei Grado, Italy’s oldest pilgrimage site.
Donau-Alpen-Adria- Pilgrims’ Trail for Cyclists

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Carinthia

Hemma Pilgrims’ Trail
The worship of St. Hemma, who was canonized only in the 20th century, can be traced back for centuries. Countess Hemma used her great wealth for the benefit of the poor and was already venerated as a saint during her lifetime. Today pilgrims will still find plenty of religions and historic attractions reminiscent of Saint Hemma. The pilgrims’ trail leads through a region rich in cultural heritage, inspiring landscapes and places of energy.
Hemma Pilgrims’ Trail

Transromanica
Romanesque architecture was a continuation of the late-Roman and early Christian architecture and shows influences from the Carolingian, Byzantine and Islamic cultures. Paintings, sculpture and crafts were greatly influenced by the Christian doctrine of salvation for architecture provides the stage and setting. The "Transromanica" project is dedicated to this joint European cultural heritage. Five regions (Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Carinthia, Parma/Modena/Ferrarra, and Slovenia) in four countries celebrate their common roots.
Transromanica

Tibetan Pilgrimage Trail (replica) and Heinrich Harrer Museum
The ethnologic collection of the world’s last great explorer allows visitors to go on a journey around the globe: magic masks, poisonous arrows, skulls and the Lingkor, a replica of a Tibetan pilgrimage trail which cuts through the rock wall opposite the museum. Hours: 22 March – 31 October 2008; daily 10 am to 5 pm (July/August until 6 pm).
www.harrermuseum.at
www.kaernten.at

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Lower Austria

Via Sacra
Pilgrimages have a long tradition in Lower Austria where many roads lead to Mariazell. Today contemplative walking is experiencing a Renaissance. Modern-day pilgrims are looking for ways to escape the stresses and strains of everyday life and recharge their batteries in the peace and quiet of nature. Austria’s oldest pilgrimage trail is Via Sacra which leads from Vienna to Mariazell. Pilgrims can take two routes to Mariazell, the traditional Via Sacra and the Viennese Pilgrim’s Trail 06. It takes about 4 to 6 days to walk to Mariazell.
www.viasacra.at

Pielachtal Pilgrims’ Trail
This 90-kilometer long route leads from Maria Lourdes church in St. Pölten through Pielachtal to the dome in Mariazell and takes three days to complete. If you don’t feel like walking all the way you can do segments by train.
www.pielachtal.info

Maria Taferl
Maria Taferl is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites. From numerous places in Waldviertel pilgrims’ trails lead to "Basilika Minor". The entire southern Waldviertel hiking region features bright yellow signs for pilgrims and there is a hiking map titled "Das Südliche Waldviertel" (Southern Waldviertel) where all trails are marked with a special symbol.
Maria Taferl

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Vorarlberg

Route of St. James
One of Christianity’s most important pilgrim’s trails is the route of St. James is to Santiago de Compostela. An important stage along the trail is Einsiedeln in Switzerland. One of the route’s the main roads leads through Tirol to Vorarlberg: it travels along Arlbergweg to Bludenz, along Walgauweg to Rankweil and through Appenzellerland to Einsiedeln.
At Walgauweg you can also take the Ecumenical Pilgrims’ Trail which leads via Feldkirch and through Liechtenstein and Toggenburg.

Munich’s Route of St. James travels in a southern direction via Weiler im Allgäu, Scheidegg, Bregenz, Altstätten and through Appenzellerland.

Information on Pilgrims’ Trails through Vorarlberg is available here: www.vorarlberg.at