Pilgrimage. Basilica of Our Lady, Absam

The route to the Basilica of Our Lady of Absam in Tyrol offers a pilgrimage of a special kind: it is the most famous Marian pilgrimage site in Tyrol. Absam owes its prominence as a place of pilgrimage, known far beyond Tyrol, to the miraculous image of the Mother of God, which appeared on 17 January 1797 on the windowpane of a house in Absam.

The image of the Blessed Virgin Mary can now be seen on a side altar in the parish church. Scientists have tried in vain to explain this miracle. Eventually, at the insistence of the local people, the miraculous image found its place in the parish church in Absam. Since then, the village near Hall in Tyrol has been an important place of pilgrimage, known far beyond the borders of Austria. “Maria Absam” – Tyrol’s most important Marian pilgrimage site – is, for many believers, above all a place of comfort and hope. On several occasions in the 19th century, members of the Austrian imperial family also made pilgrimages there to see the miraculous image of the Mother of God.

The Marian Basilica is one of the places of spiritual power in the Hall-Wattens region.

We would be delighted to assist you in finding accommodation for your pilgrimage. Please give us a call or email us at info@hall-wattens.at. Enjoy your time in the Hall-Wattens region. Our summer programme offers a rich array of cultural and activity options to ensure your pilgrimage or summer holiday is unforgettable.

Ein altertümliches Porträt mit einem mystischen Gesicht, das Augen und Lippen in einem stilisierten, verwitterten Look darstellt.

The Miraculous Image of Absam

Johann Bucher, Rosina’s brother, recounts what took place in his father’s house in the year 1797. At the age of 76, he wrote the following in the presence of two witnesses: “On the afternoon of 17 January 1797, my sister, a young woman (note: aged 18) named Rosina, was sewing at the table opposite the window in the ground-floor room. Suddenly – between 3 and 4 o’clock (note: in the afternoon) – she saw something that had never been seen before: an image of the Mother of God drawn on the pane of the inner window. She called out to her mother, who was also present but in another part of the room. Her mother hurried over and was initially quite startled when she saw the image of the Blessed Virgin, as it occurred to her that some misfortune might have befallen her father or me in Salzberg, where we were working. She therefore told Sister Rosina that we should say a prayer; which we did. After we had finished praying, my mother wiped the image away with a cloth, for it had only appeared briefly; but lo and behold, no sooner had she wiped it away than it reappeared just as before. The apparition of the image took place on a Tuesday, and on the following Thursday, my father and I returned home safely from the mountain. With amazement and joy we saw what had happened in the meantime. On 17 January 1797, I was 16 years old and have retained a clear memory of everything that took place.”
(The original of this account is in private ownership. It has been abridged from the Parish Bulletin, 1955, No. 2.)

Scientists from the University of Innsbruck, such as the mathematician Franz von Zollinger, the professor of chemistry Dr Schöpfer, the fresco painter Josef Schöpf from Telfs, and the two master glaziers Schwänninger and Appeller examined the painting in the presence of representatives of ecclesiastical and secular authorities. The devout people of Absam and large parts of Tyrol remained unshaken. “Where the Son is, there must also be the Mother!” With these words, accompanied by the solemn ringing of all the village bells, the people carried the miraculous image in a procession to the village church on 24 June 1797.

St Mary’s Square

On the completely redesigned St Mary’s forecourt in front of the basilica stands the unique series of images entitled ‘The Angel of the Lord’. ‘Anyone who quietly meditates and allows the messages of the images to sink in should feel that God became human so that, for our salvation, we might once again put down roots in him,’ explains Dean Martin Ferner.

The chapel on the west side has also been redesigned and features a special glass altar and glass figures that form a thematic link with the outdoor series of images. On the first Sunday of every month at 2.00 pm, the monthly pilgrimage takes place, beginning with the recitation of the Rosary and followed by a blessing of the sick. Pilgrimage groups are welcome to hold a prayer service or their own pilgrimage Mass at any time.

The Way of St James

The Great Pilgrimage Route passes the Basilica of Absam

Following in the footsteps of a centuries-old pilgrimage tradition, pilgrims walk along the ‘Way of St James’ through the Hall-Wattens region, where they too can find inner peace and serenity. Those seeking meaning walk a total of 17 kilometres through four villages in the region and the town of Hall in Tyrol. In Gnadenwald, their route takes them past the idyllically situated St Martin’s Monastery, a Gothic building that evolved from a hermitage in 1445. Five and a half kilometres further on, the miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the basilica at the pilgrimage site of Absam invites visitors to pray. The historic centre of the town of Hall in Tyrol, with its narrow, picturesque alleys and impressive Gothic and Baroque houses, forms a unique ensemble. In the oldest, by name known settlement in the middle Inn Valley – the nativity village of Thaur – walkers can visit the Romedikirchl, dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul.

“The path is the primordial symbol of our lives. Our life story is intertwined with first steps, new beginnings, detours, wrong turns, dead ends, labyrinths and destinations." The contemplative trail from Absam to Gnadenwald can also help you take a step back from the problems and worries of everyday life. A romantic trail leads for about an hour through the subalpine forest at the foot of the Karwendel Mountains between Absam and Gnadenwald.

Nine stations explore the ‘Beatitudes’ of Jesus Christ and offer the chance – away from the hustle and bustle, noise, haste and stress – to reflect mindfully and look within. Each station provides an opportunity to lift one’s gaze from the daily grind and focus on what really matters. One’s attention can focus on hopes and fears, small moments of happiness, and the questions and doubts of life. If the walker treads the Contemplation Trail with an open mind, they can experience wonderful moments of reflection and perhaps even come to realise that the “Beatitudes” can occur right in the midst of everyday life. At the end of the trail lies the stone labyrinth at St Martin’s Monastery in Gnadenwald, the trail’s final destination and a place of exceptional tranquillity.

Further information

Holidays. All year round

Ein Holzhaus auf einem grünen Hügel mit bunten Blumen, dahinter verschneite Berge. Malerische Alpenlandschaft im Sommer.

Spring. Vacation in Tyrol

Familie beim Wandern an einem Bergsee mit grünen Hügeln und blauem Himmel im Hintergrund.

Summer. Vacation in Tyrol

Erholsamer Urlaub in Tirol im Herbst mit Wiesen, Bergen und Wanderungen

Autumn. A holiday in Tyrol

Aktiver Urlaub in Tirol im Winter in den Bergen beim Skifahren oder Winterurlaub

Winter. Holidays in Tyrol