A twin-towered baroque pilgrimage church on the Plainberg above Bergheim, north of Salzburg. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote his Coronation Mass for its annual celebration. Panoramic views over the Salzburg basin.
The Story
A twin-towered baroque pilgrimage church crowning the Plainberg hill above Bergheim, north of Salzburg. Built 1671 to 1674 to house a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary, it became one of the most venerated pilgrimage sites in the region.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed his Mass in C major K. 317, known as the Coronation Mass, for the annual celebration of the church's crowned Madonna image in 1779. The hilltop setting affords a broad panorama over the Salzburg basin toward the Alps. Still an active pilgrimage site, with a summer festival attracting thousands.
Visiting
Open generally during daylight hours. Free admission. Reachable on foot from the Plainberg base or by car via Plainbergweg. The interior is richly baroque; allow 15 to 30 minutes. The terrace view over the Salzburg basin is outstanding in its own right. Bergheim is immediately north of the city; easily combined with a morning or evening in Salzburg.