Maria Erscheinungsweg (Maria's Path of Apparitions)

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty challenging

Route 13,3 km

Time 6:00 h

Uphill 650 hm

Downhill 650 hm

Highest point 1159 m

This pilgrimage trail offers a spiritual journey from the Grotto of Our Lady to the Pilgrimage Church of St. Leonhard, nestled in peaceful and picturesque natural surroundings. Here, amidst the forests and along the Soboth Reservoir, you can find inner peace and reflection.

The Mary Apparition Trail in Soboth is a loop trail that leads steeply downhill to the Mary Grotto on the Feistritzbach stream, but then climbs at a moderate difficulty level up to the pilgrimage church. From the pilgrimage church, the trail—which winds through forests and meadows along forest paths, across the reservoir, and into the village of Soboth—is easy to walk.
The pilgrimage route connects the local church of St. James with the Fatima Chapel (statue of Our Lady of Fatima) and the Marian Grotto (site of the Virgin Mary’s apparition, consecrated as the Lourdes Grotto and Shrine of Our Lady), the pilgrimage church of St. Leonhard in Zambichl with the Way of the Cross (featuring a statue of the Holy Virgin of the Poor), as well as the Medjugorje Cross (the 13th station of the old Way of the Cross from Medjugorje) at the Soboth reservoir, and leads us back to the village. The focus is primarily on the history of these “places of worship” and recharging one’s energy at such extraordinary sites. The ascent and descent to the Marian Grotto are very steep.

Best season

January

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More information

Coming from Graz via the A9, take the A2 toward Klagenfurt at the Graz-West interchange.
Take the Lieboch exit and follow the B76 toward Lannach-Deutschlandsberg, then continue toward Soboth.

Der Pilgerweg verbindet die Ortskirche St. Jakob mit Fatima-Kapelle (Statue der lieben Frau von Fatima) mit der Marien-Grotte (Erscheinungsort der Maria und als Lourdesgrotte und Muttergottesheiligtum geweiht), der Wallfahrtskirche St. Leonhard im Zambichl mit Kreuzweg (mit Statue der Hl. Jungfrau der Armen), sowie das Medjugorje-Kreuz (XIII. Station des alten Kreuzweges aus Medjugorje) am Stausee Soboth und führt uns wiederum in den Ort (auch Ausgangspunkt) zurück. Dabei geht es vor allem um die Entstehungsgeschichte dieser „Kultplätze“ und das Krafttanken an solch außergewöhnlichen Stätten.

The reservoir at Soboth captivates visitors with its picturesque setting and pleasant water temperature, inviting them to linger.

Many starting points for our hikes in southern Styria can also be reached by public transport.

For a relaxed and sustainable journey, we recommend travelling by bus and train wherever possible. Depending on the region, additional local transport options are available.

This allows you to start your tour stress-free while also contributing to climate and nature conservation.

All information on public transport, local mobility services and timetables can be found at: www.suedsteiermark.com/arrival

The nearest railway station is in Wies-Eibiswald.

Park for free with no time limit, right next to the Jakobihaus.

Information offices:

Eibiswald Tourist Office, Tel.: +43 (5) 7730 120, 8552 Eibiswald, Eibiswald 82

South Styria Tourist Association, Tel.: +43 (5) 7730, 8530 Deutschlandsberg, Hauptplatz 40
www.suedsteiermark.com