The best cycling routes around Erlaufsee

Look here, the Roman Catholic Basilica of Mariazell is a real gem and the most important pilgrimage site here in Austria. As early as the 14th century, a Gothic church was built here with a distinctive pointed arch portal. The central tower is a whole 90 meters high, and it houses the largest bell in Styria, weighing a whopping 5,702 kilos! Around the tower stand two more towers, which were added in the 17th century during the Baroque period. The Basilica is open every day from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM, and for those who are really interested, there are regular guided tours through the treasury and the votive collection. A real insider tip and a place to pause and marvel, especially for us from Lower Austria. Anyone who doesn't know it yet should visit it sometime, it's really worth it.

The basilica in Mariazell is beautiful and world-famous

Beautiful view of the lake even in winter 🤍❄️🏔️

The Mariazell station is the terminal station of the famous Mariazellerbahn, a traditional narrow-gauge railway that runs from St. Pölten to Mariazell. It is located on the northern edge of the pilgrimage town of Mariazell in Styria, just a few minutes' walk from the town center and the basilica. The station was opened in 1907, simultaneously with the completion of the railway line, which was originally used to transport pilgrims and goods. The historic station building shows typical elements of turn-of-the-century architecture, with wooden decorations and a distinctive, shingle-covered roof reminiscent of the alpine style. Today, the station has been modernized, but it continues to serve as the terminus of the electrically operated Mariazellerbahn, which is operated by the Lower Austrian Railways (NÖVOG). The station area features several tracks, a small bus station, a café, and connections to hiking and pilgrimage trails. Right next to the station is the Mariazell Railway Museum, which exhibits historic locomotives and wagons of the Mariazellerbahn and makes the history of this unique alpine railway tangible. The station is not only an important transport hub for pilgrims and excursionists, but also a piece of living railway history – a place where tradition and modernity meet in a special way.

Beautiful traveling museum 🚂 Details: https://museumstramway.at/

Always worth a visit

The steam train only runs on weekends between Erlaufsee and Mariazell. The services are seasonal, usually from mid-May to the end of October, on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. It is worth checking the exact schedule on their website, as the schedule may change in case of bad weather or low occupancy.

The Mariazell Basilica, officially the "Basilica of the Nativity of Mary," is considered Austria's most important pilgrimage site and is located 868 meters above sea level in the Styrian town of Mariazell. Its history begins in 1157, when, according to legend, the Benedictine monk Magnus erected a small linden wood statue of the Virgin Mary at this site – the miraculous image now venerated as the "Magna Mater Austriae." Over the centuries, these humble beginnings developed into a central Marian pilgrimage site for pilgrims from many parts of Central Europe, including Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Croatia. The current building was built primarily between 1644 and 1683 in the Baroque style, incorporating Gothic elements from the predecessor, such as the high choir and the approximately 90-meter-high tower. Inside, visitors will find magnificent Baroque altars, fine stucco, and the central Chapel of Grace, with its Romanesque statue of the Virgin Mary, sumptuously decorated with silver and gold. In 1907, Pope Pius XI granted the church the title of "Basilica Minor," and in 1983, Pope John Paul II visited the famous pilgrimage site. Today, the basilica is not only a spiritual center but also a significant cultural monument, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.