Basilika Maria Trost

On Purberg, a hill above the eastern district of Mariatrost, is one of the most important pilgrimage churches in Styria - the baroque basilica Maria Trost with its two prominent facade towers and dome, surrounded by a monastery. To get to the basilica, you can use the "Angelusstiege" with its 216 steps which had bronze plates featuring meditative texts added in 2001 - turning it into a as a path of contemplation.
As far back as the mid-17th century, many pilgrims came to Purberg to ask for miracles... and blessings from a statue of the Virgin Mary which stood in a chapel. The Maria Trost pilgrimage church was erected in 1714 in the baroque style, probably according to plans by Johann and Andreas Stengg. In 1846, the Franciscans took over the monastery from the Pauline monks. It was renovated in the middle of the 20th century. The legendary High Gothic Virgin Mary statue (but dressed in the baroque style) now stands beside the high altar. Inside the building, frescoes by Lukas von Schram and Johann Baptist Scheidt illustrate the glorification of the Virgin Mary. The pulpit (1730/31) by Veit Königer and the side altars with their marble inlay work are especially work seeing. more