In 1683, as Ottoman armies swept through Burgenland toward Vienna, Servite monks grabbed a small statue of the Black Madonna and fled into the night. Turkish forces burned the monastery to the ground, decapitating sacred images and scattering ashes across the countryside. But the Black Madonna survived, hidden and protected, waiting for the day when the faithful would return to rebuild what had been destroyed.
In the rolling hills of northern Burgenland stands the Baroque sanctuary that rose from those ashes. The village of Loretto takes its name from the Italian shrine of Loreto—and at its heart, a replica of the Holy House creates a direct link to that most famous of Marian pilgrimage sites. By 1707, a new complex had risen, more magnificent than before, and pilgrims have never stopped coming.
The plague of 1713 intensified devotion as desperate faithful sought the Black Madonna's protection against the Black Death. Today between 15,000 and 20,000 pilgrims gather on the Assumption; the Burgenland Croats maintain their own pilgrimage tradition on the third Sunday of September. In 2016, restoration workers discovered a 300-year-old statue of Mary hidden beneath the altar—beheaded during the Turkish wars, preserved in sand, her original colors still intact after three centuries.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The monastery and village of Loretto were founded in the seventeenth century specifically to honor the Black Madonna of Loreto, Italy. The Holy House of Loreto—believed by tradition to be the house where Mary received the Annunciation—had become one of Christianity's most visited shrines. Austrian devotees created their own Loreto, complete with a replica of the Holy House.
Turkish forces destroyed the original monastery in 1683 during the siege of Vienna, but the Black Madonna was saved and hidden by the Servite monks. The complex was rebuilt by 1707, incorporating the chapel replica of the Holy House in the cloister courtyard and establishing the architectural framework that pilgrims encounter today.
The plague that swept through in 1713 proved a turning point. As death claimed neighbors and family, the faithful turned to Mary for protection. Pilgrimages increased dramatically, establishing traditions that continue three centuries later. The Black Madonna became known as a protector against epidemic disease.
During renovation work in October 2016, workers discovered a remarkable relic beneath the altar of the Chapel of Grace: a 300-year-old statue of Mary, its head and the Christ Child severed during the Turkish desecration of 1683. Bedded in sand that protected it from weathering, the statue retained its original polychrome—an extraordinary survival that art historians consider invaluable testimony to pre-siege devotion.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Maria Loretto
Basilika Maria Loretto
Basilica of Our Lady of Loretto
The Baroque basilica dominates the village center, its towers rising above the surrounding farmland of the Leitha hills. The interior houses the miraculous image of the Black Madonna and preserves the devotional atmosphere of Counter-Reformation Catholicism. Rich stucco work and altar paintings create a setting worthy of the ancient image.
Loretokapelle (Holy House Chapel)
In the cloister courtyard stands the replica of the Holy House of Loreto—a small chapel reproducing the dimensions and form of the Italian original. Here pilgrims can enter a space modeled on the house where tradition says Mary received Gabriel's announcement. The intimate scale creates a powerful sense of connection to the Incarnation.
The Black Madonna
The miraculous image of the Black Madonna follows the iconographic type of the Loreto original—Mary and the Christ Child rendered in dark wood, their faces carrying the patina of centuries. Saved from Turkish destruction, she has received the prayers of Burgenland's faithful for over three centuries.
Kreuzgang (Cloister)
The atmospheric cloister connects the basilica's sacred spaces, its arcades providing shelter for pilgrims and processional routes for feast-day celebrations. Votive tablets on the walls testify to answered prayers.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Great Women's Day (Assumption) — August 15
The principal feast draws between 15,000 and 20,000 pilgrims to Loretto—the largest gathering of the year. Many still arrive on foot, maintaining traditions established after the 1713 plague. Multiple Masses throughout the day accommodate the crowds.
Nativity of Mary — September 8
The feast of Mary's birth brings a second major pilgrimage, honoring the beginning of her earthly life with solemn liturgies and traditional devotions.
Croatian Sunday — Third Sunday of September
The Burgenland Croats maintain their own pilgrimage tradition, gathering to honor the Black Madonna in their distinct cultural expression of Catholic devotion. Croatian hymns and prayers fill the basilica.
Feast of Our Lady of Loreto — December 10
The feast of the shrine's patroness commemorates the translation of the Holy House to Loreto, connecting this Austrian sanctuary to its Italian model.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Gasthof Dorfwirt (guesthouse) — Traditional village inn near the basilica, offering simple accommodations and hearty Burgenland cuisine. Ideal for pilgrims seeking authentic local hospitality.
Hotel & Restaurant Altes Presshaus ⭐⭐⭐ — Charming hotel in nearby Au am Leithagebirge, set in a converted wine press house. Reserve this hotel
Landgasthof Zur Traube ⭐⭐⭐ — Family-run guesthouse in the Leitha hills with comfortable rooms and excellent regional wine. Reserve this hotel
🚗 Getting There
By Car: Loretto lies in northern Burgenland, approximately 50 kilometers southeast of Vienna. From Vienna, take the A4 toward Budapest, exit at Bruck an der Leitha, and follow signs to Loretto. The drive takes about 45 minutes.
By Train: Take the train from Vienna to Bruck an der Leitha (approximately 30 minutes), then local bus or taxi to Loretto (about 10 km).
On Foot: Traditional pilgrimage routes approach Loretto from surrounding villages. Many pilgrims continue to walk, particularly for the August 15 feast, following paths through the vineyards and fields of Burgenland.
📚 Further Reading
Johann Hagenauer. Maria Loretto: Wallfahrt und Geschichte im Burgenland — Detailed history of the shrine and its Turkish-era destruction (in German).
🔗 Useful Links
Diocese of Eisenstadt — Official diocesan website with pilgrimage information.
Burgenland Tourism — Visitor information for Maria Loretto and the region.
Pfarre Loretto — Parish website with Mass times and pilgrimage calendar.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Mariazell (150 km) — Austria's national Marian shrine and Central Europe's most visited pilgrimage destination.
Loreto, Italy (600 km) — The original Holy House sanctuary that inspired this Austrian daughter shrine.
Vienna (50 km) — The Austrian capital with its numerous churches and the Stephansdom cathedral.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"The Mother of God has never ceased to obtain spiritual benefits in those who, with faith and devotion, come here to pray." — Pope Francis, Visit to Loreto, March 25, 2019
