Church & monasteryEastern Slovakia & Spiš

Mariánska hora: the pilgrimage basilica above Levoča

Mariánska hora (Marian Hill) rises above the Spiš town of Levoča, crowned by the Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. It is one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in eastern Slovakia, and every July thousands of pilgrims climb the hill. Even outside pilgrimage days, the basilica and its views over Levoča and the Spiš countryside make this a rewarding half-day stop.

A chapel has stood on this hill since 1247, but its greatest day came in 1995, when about 650,000 pilgrims gathered here to see Pope John Paul II.

WhereMariánska hora, a hill about 2 km from Levoča, Spiš, Prešov Region, Slovakia

TypePilgrimage basilica (basilica minor), neo-Gothic, rebuilt in the early 20th century

Best forPilgrims, history and church-architecture fans, walkers who enjoy a hilltop view

Getting thereAbout 2 km from the centre of Levoča; the pilgrim path up the hill is lined with chapels and a lime avenue

The history of the basilica on Mariánska hora

The Marian cult on this hill goes back to the 13th century. The first chapel was built here in 1247, and according to one tradition the spot may have served as a refuge for the people of Levoča during the Mongol invasions and may also have been linked to a hospital for sufferers from leprosy. The feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary is connected with the arrival of the Franciscan Minorites in Levoča in 1311. Chronicles record repairs to the chapel in 1311 and 1322, and pilgrims were already coming. In 1470 parish priest Servác had the chapel rebuilt as a Gothic church and a Gothic statue of the Virgin Mary was placed in it. The church is shown in this form on the altar by Master Paul of Levoča in the Basilica of St James in Levoča.

Pilgrims kept coming during the Reformation, but the pilgrimage revived only after the re-Catholicisation of the region. The first great procession took place on 2 July 1671, and two years later, with papal permission, the church became a place where indulgences could be obtained. According to a tradition, in 1673 shepherds saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary close to the church. Further rebuilding followed in 1688, and a Baroque church replaced the Gothic one in 1766. When Emperor Joseph II banned pilgrimages across his empire in 1787, the site declined, and repairs did not start until 1820. In the 19th century the church received an organ (1844) and statues in honour of Mary were set up along the path up the hill.

The present church was built to replace the old one. The foundation stone was laid in 1903, and the work, to a design by the architect Anton Müller, continued from 1906 to 1914 and beyond because of poor materials and the collapse of the new tower in 1908. The Bishop of Spiš, Ján Vojtaššák, consecrated the neo-Gothic basilica on 2 July 1922. The medieval Gothic statue of the Virgin from the second half of the 15th century was returned to the main altar. In time a pilgrimage place for believers of the Latin and Greek rites in eastern and central Slovakia became a national shrine, and people kept coming even under the communist regime, despite the difficulties.

On 26 January 1984 Pope John Paul II raised the church to the rank of basilica minor. He visited the site himself on 3 July 1995, the largest pilgrimage so far, when more than 650,000 people gathered on and around the hill. The pilgrimage path is lined with five chapels and an avenue of lime trees, which was named John Paul II Avenue on the tenth anniversary of his visit. In October 2005 Levoča and Mariánska hora joined the European Association of Marian Pilgrimage Sites. The annual pilgrimage is held in early July, around the feast of the Visitation, which is still celebrated on 2 July in Slovakia.

Curiosities about Mariánska hora

On 3 July 1995, during John Paul II's visit, more than 650,000 pilgrims gathered here, the largest pilgrimage the site has seen.
The Gothic statue of the Virgin Mary from the second half of the 15th century is still on the main altar of the present basilica.
The medieval church on the hill is painted on the altar by Master Paul of Levoča in the Basilica of St James in Levoča, so the altar preserves how it looked in the 15th century.
A tradition says that in 1673 shepherds saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary close to the church.
The tower of the new church collapsed in 1908, partly because of poor building materials, which delayed the completion.
The pilgrim path is lined with five chapels and a lime avenue named after John Paul II.

Tours near Mariánska hora

Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:

Private Hiking Tour Visit to Slovakia with Licensed Guide

★ 5 (75 reviews) · 6 h

See details ›

Day Hike with a Local Mountain Guide in High Tatras

★ 5 (6 reviews) · 8 h

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Enchanting Levoča: Love Amidst Historic Grandeur

2 h

See details ›

Echoes of History: Levoča Legendary Stroll

2 h

See details ›

Visiting Mariánska hora

The basilica stands just below the summit of the hill (781 m), with views over Levoča and the surrounding countryside.
A path with five chapels and a lime avenue leads up to the basilica, a pleasant approach on foot.
A small chapel for believers of the Greek rite stands beside the basilica, a reminder that the site has welcomed both Latin and Greek-rite pilgrims.
The site includes a retreat house, a religious house and a house for pilgrims. The main pilgrimage takes place in early July, so expect crowds then. Check the current opening hours before you go.
Other places on this site nearby include St James's Church and the Evangelical A. C. Church in Levoča (both about 2 km away), Plaveč Castle and Ľubovňa Castle (both about 30 km).

Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.

Map: where Mariánska hora is

Photos of Mariánska hora

Another view of the Marian pilgrimage site near Levoča

Questions

Where is Mariánska hora and how do you get there?

Mariánska hora is a hill about 2 km from the centre of Levoča in the Spiš region of eastern Slovakia. A pilgrim path with five chapels and a lime avenue leads up to the basilica.

When is the pilgrimage to Mariánska hora?

The main annual pilgrimage takes place in early July, around the feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary on 2 July. It draws a very large number of participants.

Did Pope John Paul II visit Mariánska hora?

Yes. He raised the church to basilica minor on 26 January 1984 and visited in person on 3 July 1995, when more than 650,000 pilgrims gathered.

How old is the pilgrimage site on Mariánska hora?

The first chapel dates from 1247. The present neo-Gothic basilica was built in the early 20th century and consecrated in 1922.

What is inside the basilica?

The main altar holds the Gothic statue of the Virgin Mary from the second half of the 15th century, which was kept when the church was rebuilt. A retreat house and a pilgrim house stand beside it.

Can you see the old church anywhere?

Yes, in a painting on the altar by Master Paul of Levoča in the Basilica of St James in Levoča, which shows the 15th-century church on the hill.