maria waldrast winter
maria waldrast winter

Maria Waldrast Pilgrimage Church

One of the highest monasteries in Europe invites you to summer and winter hikes between the Wipptal and Stubaital valleys

Between the Stubaital and Wipptal valleys, at the foot of Mt. Serles, is a popular excursion destination and a true place of power: the Maria Waldrast Servite Monastery (Servitenkloster Maria Waldrast). The place got its name centuries ago because shepherds once liked to rest here. They were also the ones who found an image of Our Lady in a tree trunk in 1407 AD. Shortly afterwards, the construction of a chapel began. The present monastery dates back to the 17th century, when a spring with healing effects was also found right next to it.

The monastery, which incidentally also offers overnight accommodation, is not only known as one of the oldest Marian pilgrimage sites in Tyrol, but also as one of the highest pilgrimage sites in Europe due to its location at 1,641 m a.s.l. The church itself is decorated inside with a Gothic choir from the 15th century and works by Michael Waldmann the Younger. The picture of grace shows a carved seated Madonna handing an apple to the infant Jesus and dates from around 1420, but was later over-carved in Baroque style. The Passion panels on the nave wall date from around the same time. The monastery can be reached from the Wipptal and the Stubaital: A toll road to Maria Waldrast starts at Mützens above Matrei am Brenner, where a shuttle service also operates.

On foot, you can either follow the sledge run or the Quellenweg path through the forest from Matrei. From the Stubaital, on the other hand, a beautiful hike leads from the Koppeneck mountain station of the Serles Cable Cars to Maria Waldrast - alternatively, it takes three hours to walk past 15 rosary chapels in the valley below from Mieders to the pilgrimage site. In the cold season, you can discover the snow-covered pilgrimage monastery Maria Waldrast as a winter hike.

Contact info

Opening times

  • Wed 04 Dec 09:00 - 17:30
  • Thu 05 Dec 09:00 - 17:30
  • Fri 06 Dec 09:00 - 17:30
  • Sat 07 Dec 09:00 - 17:30
  • Sun 08 Dec 09:00 - 17:30
  • Mon 09 Dec 09:00 - 17:30
  • Tue 10 Dec 09:00 - 17:30

Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.

Full timetables
Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.

Pilgrimage church - autumn 2024 (09/09/2024 - 30/11/2024)

  • Mon 09:00 - 17:30
  • Tue 09:00 - 17:30
  • Wed 09:00 - 17:30
  • Thu 09:00 - 17:30
  • Fri 09:00 - 17:30
  • Sat 09:00 - 17:30
  • Sun 09:00 - 17:30

Austrian National Day 2024 (26/10/2024) 09:00 - 17:30

All Saints 2024 (01/11/2024) 09:00 - 17:30

Pilgrimage church - winter 2024/25 (01/12/2024 - 23/03/2025)

  • Mon 09:00 - 17:30
  • Tue 09:00 - 17:30
  • Wed 09:00 - 17:30
  • Thu 09:00 - 17:30
  • Fri 09:00 - 17:30
  • Sat 09:00 - 17:30
  • Sun 09:00 - 17:30

Immaculate Conception 2024 (08/12/2024) 09:00 - 17:30

Christmas Eve 2024 (24/12/2024) 09:00 - 17:30

Christmas 2024 (25/12/2024) 09:00 - 17:30

Boxing Day 2024 (26/12/2024) 09:00 - 17:30

New Year's Eve 2024 (31/12/2024) 09:00 - 17:30

New Year 2025 (01/01/2025) 09:00 - 17:30

Epiphany 2025 (06/01/2025) 09:00 - 17:30

Pilgrimage church - spring 2025 (24/03/2025 - 30/04/2025)

  • Mon 09:00 - 17:30
  • Tue 09:00 - 17:30
  • Wed 09:00 - 17:30
  • Thu 09:00 - 17:30
  • Fri 09:00 - 17:30
  • Sat 09:00 - 17:30
  • Sun 09:00 - 17:30

Easter 2025 (20/04/2025) 09:00 - 17:30

Easter Monday 2025 (21/04/2025) 09:00 - 17:30

Admission

pilgrimage church freely accessible

Maria Waldrast toll road:
€ 7.00 car

free for overnight guests of the Maria Waldrast inn

shuttle service in winter

More information

The opening hours refer to the Maria Waldrast Pilgrimage Church: It stays open every day all year round, changes of the opening hours are possible at short notice on church holidays. We recommend to ask in advance if there are any Holy Masses or festivities on the selected day!

Holy Mass in German language from Monday to Friday at 7.15 am, Saturday at 3 pm, Sunday and public holidays at 9 am and 10.30 am, from the 1st of May to September 30 additionally at 3 pm.

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