Mariatrost Basilica

The Basilica of the Birth of the Virgin Mary, also known as the parish and pilgrimage church Graz-Mariatrost, is a Catholic church situated on the Purberg in Graz-Mariatrost.The baroque building, known as the former Pauline or Franciscan monastery Maria Trost, holds great significance as one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Styria.

The pilgrimage church is located at an elevation of 469 meters above sea level.High Purberg is a ridge located in the northeastern part of Graz.The elevation consists of Devonian Schöcklkalk and is located on the southern foothills of the Graz Uplands, specifically on the left bank of the Mur River.The Mariatroster Bach, along with the Weizer Straße (B 72), creates a division between the shaded hill and the crest of the Kogelberg-Hauenstein hill.From Graz’s perspective, upstream behind the Purberg, you will find the Föllinger basin along with its corresponding district.In the southeastern direction, there is a ridge that ascends to a Riedel in the Tertiary hill country. This ridge acts as a barrier, separating the Mariatroster valley from the Stifting valley.

The name “Purberg” or “Burgberg” for the Mariatroster Kirchberg was initially documented in 1615.According to historian Kubinzky, this is believed to be a reference to a medieval castle complex that is currently unknown.The fact that the location is exposed above the breakthrough valley suggests that it may have been used in the past for protection or religious purposes.To reach the church, you can take tram line 1 to its terminus. From there, you can access the church by climbing the Angelus staircase, which consists of 216 steps. If you prefer hiking, there are trails that lead to the Purberg from both the west and north directions.To the east of the basilica, you will find the Kirchenwirt and the Mariatroster cemetery. Additionally, there is a car park available with a capacity of approximately 50 cars.

The basilica is located along the route of the Styrian Mariazellerweg, which is a long-distance hiking trail in Austria (Trail 06). This trail serves as a pilgrimage route, starting from Eibiswald, passing through Graz, and ending in Mariazell.

Mariatrost holds significant importance as one of the prominent Marian pilgrimage sites in the region of Styria.The goal of the pilgrims, who have come and continue to come from Austria, Hungary, and Croatia, is to visit a miraculous statue of Mary. This statue originated from the Rein Monastery near Graz and was originally located in the house chapel of the Purbergschlössl.In 1708, Franz Caspar Conduzi, the owner of the property, generously donated it to the Pauline Order.

In 1714, the church’s cornerstone was laid after it received official recognition as a place of pilgrimage.Construction began under the supervision of Andreas Stengg and his son Johann Georg Stengg.The first services were celebrated a mere five years later.Emperor Charles VI issued a decree to initiate the construction of a road connecting Graz to Mariatrost, with the aim of enhancing accessibility to the area.The construction of the church’s shell was completed in 1724.However, the project was not fully completed until the year 1779. A few years later, the Paulines were required to leave Mariatrost as a result of the Josephine reforms.

The monastery and pilgrimage church were transformed into a parish church, while the monastery wings were sold to a butcher and subsequently converted into stables.From 1846 to 1996, the Franciscans once again assumed leadership of the church as a significant pilgrimage site.The Mariatrost Declaration was published in the basilica in October 1968.The order left the monastery in 1996.Since then, the parish has been under the care of priests from the Diocese of Graz-Seckau.The period of growth reached its peak on October 28, 1999, when Pope John Paul II appointed the church as a minor basilica.

The basilica is considered to be a prime example of the high form of Baroque architecture during the reign of the emperor.The structure of this cross-cupola church includes two four-story facade towers, each standing at a height of 61 meters. Additionally, there is a dome that adds to the distinctive features of the church’s design. These elements make the church easily visible from a distance.The basilica is encircled by the structures of a previous monastery, which was initially utilized by the Paulines from 1708 to 1786, and subsequently by the Franciscans.Located on the last third of the Angelus staircase, there is a bronze sculpture of the Annunciation Angel Gabriel. This medium-sized artwork was created by Erwin Huber, a talented artist from Graz, in the year 2000.

The monastery building’s wings enclose the church building, which features towers.The basilica is crowned by a magnificent dome that towers over its crossing.There are chapels located on both sides.The model for the church building is Il Gesù, a Jesuit church located in Rome.

Historical depictions show that the building complex on the Purberg was predominantly white until the first half of the 20th century.In 1773, the facade was the only side that lacked a layer of mortar, while all the other sides had it.In 1842, the plaster and whitewash were absent on three sides of the building, with the exception of the facade.The complex was painted yellow and white (“Schönbrunner Gelb”) from the mid-20th century until 2021/2022.

The basilica and the adjoining monastery buildings have been undergoing extensive renovations since 2020 due to significant construction defects and damage. The purpose of these renovations is to restore the complex and make large areas accessible to the public once again.During the exterior renovation in 2020, plaster tests were conducted and revealed that the baroque surfaces had been painted with a reddish ocher tone, in addition to the historical whitewash.The recoloring from 2021 successfully captured the original coloring with great accuracy.