Mariazell
Municipality in Styria, Austria / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mariazell (Central Bavarian: Mariazöö) is an Austrian city in the southeastern state of Styria. Well known for being a hub of winter sports and a pilgrimage destination, it is located 143 kilometres (89 miles) north of Graz. It is picturesquely situated in the valley of the Salza, amid the north Styrian Alps.
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Mariazell
Mariazöö | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 47°46′23″N 15°18′59″E | |
Country | Austria |
State | Styria |
District | Bruck-Mürzzuschlag |
Government | |
• Mayor | Walter Schweighofer (ÖVP) |
Area | |
• Total | 414.09 km2 (159.88 sq mi) |
Elevation | 868 m (2,848 ft) |
Population (2018-01-01)[2] | |
• Total | 3,813 |
• Density | 9.2/km2 (24/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Postal code | 8630 |
Area code | 03882 |
Vehicle registration | BM |
Website | www.stadt-mariazell.at |
It is a site of pilgrimage for Catholics from Austria and neighboring countries. The object of veneration is an image of the Virgin Mary reputed to work miracles, carved in lime-tree wood. This was brought to the place in 1157, and is now enshrined in a chapel adorned with objects of silver and other costly materials. The large church of which the chapel forms part was erected in 1644 as an expansion of a smaller church built by Louis I, King of Hungary, after a victory over the Ottoman Empire in 1363.