"A medieval fortress surrendered to the Virgin Mary, now reached by 142 spiral steps"
Pilgrimage church of Maria Geburt
Mariastein, Tirol, Austria
Rising from a 14-meter cliff in the Tyrolean countryside, the 42-meter tower of Mariastein once guarded a Roman road. When gunpowder made it obsolete as a fortification, the tower was claimed for devotion. Pilgrims now climb 142 spiral steps to the Chapel of Grace, where the miraculous image of the Mother of Consolation has drawn seekers for over five centuries.
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Quick Facts
Location
Mariastein, Tirol, Austria
Coordinates
47.5267, 12.0533
Last Updated
Jan 28, 2026
Learn More
In 1360-1361, the Masters of Freundsberg built a 42-meter tower on a 14-meter cliff to guard the Roman road between Innsbruck and Rosenheim. When gunpowder rendered the fortification obsolete, the tower was converted for devotional use. Around 1470, the Masters of Ebbs built a chapel housing a Virgin Mary statue, establishing the pilgrimage tradition. The castle passed through Bavarian ownership before the Archdiocese of Salzburg acquired it in 1834, which maintains stewardship today. The 18th-century Rococo altarpiece graces the Chapel of Grace, and the castle museum holds the Tyrolean State Insignia.
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