Pilgrimage Church and Pauline Fathers' Monastery
Pilgrimage Church and Pauline Fathers' Monastery
Pilgrimage Church and Pauline Fathers' Monastery
4.5
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
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4.5
80 reviews
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24
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6
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Aquinasmagister
Hatfield, UK377 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
This is a pilgrimage church on the other side of the river from Passau which affords amazing view of Passau. There are two ways up. You either walk up Mariahilf Straße all the way up the hill (or drive up and there’s a car park 100 m further on, or a bus) or you climb up the 321 covered pilgrims steps on KapuzinerPlatz . These steps take you up and up and turn into a prayer climb including stations of the cross and “thank” gifts (plaques and rosaries) left by people whose prayers have been answered. A beautiful church at the top and a little walk outside the church . No amenities like drinks when we went (obviously there are toilets) but this is a must visit to get views across Passau from outside the monastery gates
Written 22 August 2022
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duhoz
Beroun, Czech Republic7,526 contributions
Dec 2024 • Friends
It is not too difficult to reach the pilgrimage site from the downtown. It is about 20 minutes walk and 321 stairs to climb up, so this way is not for wheelchair users who have to take a car. But after the climb you will be rewarded but magnificent view of the city and Veste Oberhause. This is 17th Century baroque monastery was of great importance as a place of pilgrimato to Saint Mary. The place was full of serenity as not many people visited the complex and the lovely churge with a small muzeum.
Written 1 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
folieske4
Antwerp, Belgium7,248 contributions
The complex is not extensive, nor does it boast any magnificent architecture but it is a compact group of buildings that cleverly exploits its hilltop position. This makes Mariahilf an aesthetically pleasing place of pilgrimage which most pilgrims approach via the pilgrimage steps. This “heavenly ladder” (321 steps) is a covered staircase leading from the Passau Innstadt to the top of the hill. Pilgrims kneel and pray at each step, approaching the place of grace in a particularly memorable manner. The design of the church interior is extremely simple but nevertheless rich in perspective and suited to the pilgrimage. The east bay of three-bay nave is interrupted by low transept arms. Behind this is the semi-circular choir, divided up by pilasters and barrel vaults. The west bay is occupied by a two-bay gallery. The walls of the nave consist of broad Tuscan pilasters connected by an entablature strip which also surrounds the choir. The diocesan town of Passau has long been a centre of religious life in Bavaria and Austria. In 1611, Prince-Bishop Archduke Leopold of Austria brought to Passau, his town of residence, a painting of the Mother of God tenderly embraced by the Child Jesus. The painting was the work of Lucas Cranach the Elder, a leading German painter, and was probably produced after 1537. This outstanding painting was greatly admired by the Passau Cathedral Dean Baron Marquard von Schwendi. He had two copies of the painting made, one of which he hung in a wooden chapel in his garden at the foot of what is today known as Mariahilf hill. After having several visions of Our Lady, he decided in 1622 to re-locate the chapel with the painting to the top of the hill and to open the chapel to all the faithful. Interest was so great and the crowds of pilgrims so large that in 1624 he had to start building a church, which was completed in 1627. From 1631 onwards, it came under the aegis of the Capucin monks from the nearby hospice and from the monastery in the Passau Innstadt. They made Mariahilf into a major centre of pilgrimage for Central and South-East Europe, especially after the deliverance of Vienna from the Turks in 1683, seen by many as a response to appeals to Our Lady of the Succours. Regular processions and pilgrimages to Mariahilf still take place today. One can see a great panorama over Passau on this mountain.
Written 3 October 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fotos82
Ljubljana, Slovenia329 contributions
June 2014 • Solo
The Monastery has an excellent hilltop location overlooking the city. There are about 321 stairps you need to take from the Innstadt city part to the Monastery. The stairs are located in a covered staircase which is full of memories and gifts to/of the Holy Mother.The Monastery is beautiful even though it's not full of paintings and/or statues.
You should count ca. one hour for your trip up to the Monastery from the city center. The staircase is accessibble at the corner of the Kapuzinerplatz and Neutorgraben through a small gate.
You should count ca. one hour for your trip up to the Monastery from the city center. The staircase is accessibble at the corner of the Kapuzinerplatz and Neutorgraben through a small gate.
Written 6 July 2014
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Mi-Dan20
Dallas, Texas659 contributions
July 2014 • Family
We have a friend that lives in Passau, this was his TOP recommendation. To get there cross the river bridge directly below the very visible pilgrimage that sits high on a hilltop then proceed up the hillside on the worn sometimes muddy pathways. It is easy to find and a fairly easy climb but not for someone with ANY difficulties, if that is the case I suggest you drive up the other side. If you do climb the hill there are fabulous views on the way up and a wonderful trek through this lovely wooded area. Once there you do climb up into the tower on a winding stairway. Relax and enjoy the picturesque panoramic views. We got some of the best photos of our trip, it was just wonderful. There is also a restaurant on top with fabulous views.
Written 18 August 2014
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anamteX
hong kong92 contributions
May 2013
short business trip in Passau, I planned to go this church by walk. It around 1 hour by foot from passau hbf to the church, cross the bridge and climb up a hill. I can taste the green and flowers when i was getting closer to church. It is not grand, but really peaceful. I still smell the taste of church..am i was heaven? it really clean up my soul. Very close to heaven I guess. and i am full of joy n peace now.
Written 5 May 2013
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kpiddy
Brisbane, Australia14,439 contributions
Nov 2010
What a delightful place Passau is, we came from Regensburg by train on a daytrip, once we arrived we started wandering around the town. It is a very nice town to wander around too, plenty of great shops and food outlets, and beautiful buildings. Our favorite was crossing over the Inn River and climbing the many stairs in the covered stairwell to the top of the hill to reach the pilgrimage church 'Mariahilf'-Kloster. On the day of our visit it was around 2C, and it was only slightly warmer inside the stairwell. It is an amazing structure that takes you up to the top to 'Mariahilf'. Around the corner of the buildings is a viewing platform looking over to Passau city, we were the only tourists at the time to be there, it is slightly out of the way of the normal tourist I feel, but well worth finding.
Written 19 February 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
azdenisea
Phoenix, AZ38 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
My husband and I visited in December. We started the day early with plenty of energy to climb the 360 stairs to Mariahilf. We walked from our hotel, across the bridge, and through the Innstadt district to the beginning of the climb. The stairs were relatively easy with groupings of 10-13 stairs in a section. We had to stop several times but there were windows to look out over the river and town. The church itself is very small in comparison to the huge cathedrals in town, but it is a very beautiful little church and lovingly cared for. On our return we walked down the hill to Passau and experienced a lovely view of the cities and rivers.
Written 1 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Col A
Brisbane Region, Australia489 contributions
July 2015 • Couples
The church is worth a visit but more unique is the covered walkway going up the steep hillside we could only enter from the top near the church. Plenty of parking in car park above the church and walk a couple hundred meters
Written 6 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EVArcht
New York City, NY285 contributions
July 2018 • Couples
Wherever we travel in Europe, we love to climb...whether it be a church tower, a castle tower...whatever it might be. When we were in Passau we were intrigued by the idea of the pilgrimage stair and we love to see old churches, so it sounded like a great way to spend part of the afternoon.
It's not a terribly long walk over the bridge from Passau to the bottom of the stairs...although I am surprised more people don't mention that it isn't necessarily well-marked on how to actually get in. It doesn't say "Come on In"...Or "Stair Entry"....you just sort of open a wood door that you aren't sure if you should be opening.
The climb up is very intense...it's quite a unique experience....and you need to be in moderately good shape with decent knees and cardio ability. Especially in summer. We were panting by the time we got to the top.
The church itself was a let down, in my opinion....but after seeing the Cathedral in Passau I suppose anything seems plain and a bit boring. The view is quite lovely and the climb back down is easy in comparison to climbing up.
It's probably worth a couple of hours of an afternoon, but it was NOT by favorite thing we did in Passau.
It's not a terribly long walk over the bridge from Passau to the bottom of the stairs...although I am surprised more people don't mention that it isn't necessarily well-marked on how to actually get in. It doesn't say "Come on In"...Or "Stair Entry"....you just sort of open a wood door that you aren't sure if you should be opening.
The climb up is very intense...it's quite a unique experience....and you need to be in moderately good shape with decent knees and cardio ability. Especially in summer. We were panting by the time we got to the top.
The church itself was a let down, in my opinion....but after seeing the Cathedral in Passau I suppose anything seems plain and a bit boring. The view is quite lovely and the climb back down is easy in comparison to climbing up.
It's probably worth a couple of hours of an afternoon, but it was NOT by favorite thing we did in Passau.
Written 9 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What time in the afternoon do the Monks file in for Monastic chants
Written 11 October 2017
What time in the afternoon do the monks file in for afternoon mass.
Written 2 August 2017
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