Hotel Haus Franziskus and Mariazell |
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Hotel Haus Franziskus The three star Hotel Haus Franziskus is located in Austria, Styria, on the border of Mariazell and St. Sebastian. Only a 5-8 minute pleasant walk separates us from the Basilica and the main ski lift in downtown Mariazell. The hotel lies in wonderful mountainous surroundings and is still easy to reach by every means of transportation. We provide free parking to our guests whether they arrive by car or bus right at the hotel. We provide comfortable accommodation and wide range of services for all of our guests. The hotel has its own restaurant and cafeteria. Rooms: Services: The non-smoking hotel has an elevator and rooms for the handicapped. We are also prepared to receive families with small children: we provide children beds and have a safe playing room for the little ones. One of the hotels other uniqueness is its own Chapel, where all believers and religious groups are freely welcome to use. -conference room |
Mariazell, the heart of EuropeBetween wonderful landscapes, surrounded by the peaks of the Alps lays Mariazell, in a calm little valley, as the jewelry box of Styria. Mariazell is only 350 kms away from Budapest and 135 kms away from Vienna. This is the most important pilgrimage place of Austria and Central Europe. More than 1 million people visit here annually. The little town with its unique atmosphere is also perfect for family holidays, relaxations. The History and legend of Mariazell On the evening of December 21, 1157, a Benedictine monk named Magnus was in a forest looking for a place to build a monastery. At one point, his path became blocked by a huge boulder that was too big to go over or around, so Magnus took a small wooden statue of the Virgin Mary he had in his knapsack, knelt in prayer, and asked the Virgin Mary for guidance. Soon there was a great rumble and the rock split in two, allowing him to pass through. Magnus placed the statue reverently on a white branch and soon after, he and some of the local people built a small chapel to house the statue. Word of the miraculous statue of the Virgin quickly spread across the countryside, and the chapel had to be periodically expanded to accommodate the growing crowds. In 1200, the chapel was enlarged to a church and in 1335, Henry I expanded the church after experiencing a miraculous cure. Still more pilgrims began to visit after about 1330, when a Zellfahrt ("Zell journey") was introduced as a form of atonement for criminals. In 1363, Louis I of Hungary replaced the church with an even larger one in thanksgiving for a victory. This Gothic church had a 90-meter-high spire with an ogive portal. In 1377, Louis I added the Chapel of Grace (Gnadenkappelle). The pilgrimage church - BasilicaThe Mariazell Basilica is the most important pilgrimage destination in Austria and one of the most important in Europe. In the church, a miraculous wooden image of the Virgin Mary is honored. Chapel of the Holy SpringClose to the Basilica is the Holy spring chapel. According to the legend it miraculously heals eye problems. Mariazell ginger bread and bittersThe Mariazell bitters and ginger bread are real sightseeing attractions. Both of their productions reaches back centuries ago, since even back then they took the catering of pilgrims seriously. Gingerbread is quite delicious, nutritious, healthy, and on long journeys it keeps its freshness for a long time. In Mariazell Family Pirker started ginger bread baking business 300 years ago, and the Arzberg liquor manufacturers started theirs in 1883. They use the same secret recipe that contains 33 different kinds of herbs. EuropeumIn the end of October 2008 the new conference center, Europeum, which was completed with the help of the European Union, finally opened its gates. The Europeum is in the middle of Mariazell, its largest room can fit 600 people and everyone can enjoy the center's spa and the café's spectacular view.
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