A Marian pilgrimage site on the Austrian Way of St. James
The name comes from a small table, a Taferl with a picture of the Virgin Mary, which has worked wonders. You can read the story about the Taferl in an oak tree at http://www.basilika.at/
Photo: Advertising for Austria
The baroque church Maria Taferl is consecrated to the "Painful Mother of God". It was built between 1660 and 1710. The dome was designed by Jakob Prandtauer.
View into the dome
In the church one finds exuberant baroque. The oak with the "Taferl" is built into the altar. You can see this best when you climb up to the museum.
The high altar with the miraculous image. Use the zoom function (magnifying glasses and double magnifying glass symbol)
In the possession of the Maria Taferl Basilica there is a special chasuble. After Sisi's marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph in 1854, the wedding gown was traditionally donated
to the Basilica, which had the fabric, including silver embroidery, reworked into a vespertine cloak. For decades priests have worn the wedding dress of Habsburg Empress Sisi
in the Basilica Maria Taferl - in a tailor-made form.
Since April 2012 the chasuble has been on display in the Sisi Museum in the Hofburg Palace, where it can be admired up close as a leifage. The embroidered appliqués made of
silver alder and silver cord show a dense work of leaves and flowers, from which branches with fruit and spiral ends grow.
In the museum the coat complements the wedding collection, which already consisted of parts of the bridal trousseau, the wedding announcement and a copy of the hen's gown. (Source: ORF)
In the left tower countless votive pictures are hanging. Very often the Mariahilf picture serves as a model: See for yourself!
From the terrace in front of the basilica there is a wonderful view over the Danube valley.
On a clear day you can see as far as the Alps.
back to Melk
Ybbs - Persenbeug
Danube cycle route
