Monastery Maria Waldrast

The Maria Waldrast Monastery is situated at the junction of the Stubai and Wipptal valleys. This place of pilgrimage is one of the highest monasteries in Europe and a place of spiritual energy, making it a very popular destination that is easily accessible all year round from the Koppeneck mountain station of the Serlesbahnen cable car.

Where the picturesque pilgrimage church stands today, there was originally a small clearing in the forest. People crossing the mountain passes from one valley to the other used to rest here. The name Waldrast is derived from this very resting place.

On Holy Saturday in 1407, the two shepherd boys Hans and Peter from Mützens discovered the image of the Mother of God in a hollow larch trunk. The boys’ families then carefully sawed the image, which had grown into the wood, out of the trunk and took the Mother of God to the parish church in Matrei am Brenner.

When the woodcutter Christian Lusch was on his way home from work at Pentecost of the same year, a clear ringing of bells was heard. Exactly where the pilgrimage church stands today, the Mother of God appeared to him with a little child in her arms and reminded him of what an inner voice had already instructed him to do: he was to build a church on this spot. In 1409, the Bishop of Brixen granted permission for the building project. Twenty years later, Lusch’s dream became a reality and the chapel, built in honour of Mary, was provisionally completed.

The beginning of the pilgrimage to Maria Waldrast

In 1429, the image of the Virgin Mary was carried back up the mountain in a solemn procession to the newly built chapel of ‘Maria Waldrast’. In 1465, the Auxiliary Bishop of Salzburg consecrated the altars of the pilgrimage church. A chaplain was appointed to look after the pilgrims, and Prince Maximilian (later Emperor) granted him permission to provide hospitality to the pilgrims. During the peasant uprisings, the chapel – which had already been enlarged – was looted. However, the damage was repaired by the faithful.

The Servite Monastery

Under Prince Leopold V, the foundation stone for the Servite monastery adjoining the pilgrimage church was laid in 1621, and the Servites (Servants of Mary) were entrusted with pastoral care at the pilgrimage site. In 1644, the work was completed under Archduchess Claudia of Medici. The new altars in the chapel were crafted in 1660 and were enlarged and redesigned in the Baroque style between 1728 and 1735.

Emperor Joseph II dissolved the monastery in February 1785 and banned the pilgrimage. The living quarters were rendered unusable, the buildings were demolished and thus left to decay. The Order bought back the ruins in November 1844 and rebuilt the buildings.

In 1941, however, the monastery and the church were closed by the Nazis. In June 1945, the monks were able to return and carry out the necessary repairs. Between 1986 and 1995, the church and monastery underwent a thorough renovation.

Place of pilgrimage and spiritual retreat

Then as now, the Hotel Maria Waldrast is a popular destination for pilgrims. Not much has changed since the Marian pilgrimage began. Pilgrims, travellers, adventurers and those seeking peace and quiet from near and far seek refuge, spirituality and relaxation behind the monastery’s imposing walls. Furthermore, the Servite monastery in Matrei am Brenner is the perfect venue for seminars, courses, family celebrations and festivities of all kinds.

Source: Maria Waldrast