Via Sacra (Vienna Woods)
The centuries-old pilgrimage route that leads from Vienna through the Vienna Woods to the Mariazell pilgrimage site is generally referred to as the Via Sacra (Latin for 'holy road') . The actual start of the route is in Mödling. The route is partly identical to that of the Viennese Wallfahrerweg 06 , which also leads from Perchtoldsdorf to Mariazell.
In the twentieth century there was a revival of the old pilgrimage tradition. As the traditional route through the Gölsen and Traisental valleys was no longer accessible to foot pilgrims due to the traffic, the alpine clubs created a pre-alpine route via Hocheck , Kieneck and Unterberg . Several variants were and are traditionally committed by church groups from Vienna, Burgenland and Lower Austria.
In the last few years the communities of the Gölsen and Traisental and tourists from the Mostviertel are striving to revive the old Via Sacra. That is why they differentiate between a “Via Sacra” (old Via Sacra through the Traisen / Gölsental) and a “Viennese pilgrimage route” (Via Sacra of the 20th century). Both routes were signposted in 2007. What remains is the fact that the route through the Gölsen and Traisental valleys is close to the road and less touristy than the one through the foothills of the Alps. The Via Sacra route Türnitz – Annaberg is still only accessible (as of summer 2007) via the busy main road.
On the route that leads from Mödling via Gaaden , Heiligenkreuz , Alland and the pilgrimage site of Hafnerberg, first into the upper Triestingtal and then via the Richtberg into the Gölsental and Traisental , you will find a particularly large number of wayside shrines and Marterl . These pilgrimages were already an important economic factor for these areas in the past. Many inns along the way lived from the pilgrims.
The Mostviertel region is trying to benefit from the pilgrimage trend with the revitalized Via Sacra. Concert cycles are carried out every year in the Wienerwald communities.
Exhibitions
- Picturesque pilgrimage to Mariazell in watercolors by Eduard Gurk . October 26, 2014 - March 22, 2015. Lower Austria State Museum . Curated by Wolfgang Krug. In 1833, Eduard Gurk created a series of 40 watercolors with views of the scenic beauties along the pilgrimage route from Vienna to Mariazell as a commissioned work for Crown Prince Ferdinand .
Web links
Coordinates: 48 ° 3 ′ 20 ″ N , 16 ° 7 ′ 55 ″ E