Adlwang
Adlwang - Gentle hills. Quiet paths.
Step by step through meadows, forests and established tradition.
Adlwang lies between gentle hills, meadows and forests - a place that is quietly effective and unfolds its power precisely because of this. In the spa district of Bad Hall, nestled in the landscape of the southern 360° Alps, spirituality is combined with nature and regional culture. Adlwang is considered the oldest place of pilgrimage in Upper Austria and still carries this history with it to this day.
The surroundings of Adlwang are characterised by gentle mountain ranges, meadow paths and quiet woodland. It's not about alpine extremes here, but about consciously being on the move. Easy hikes, leisurely bike rides or a walk through the Hallerwald forest open your eyes to the details: the rustling of the leaves, the play of light and shadow, the expanse of the fields.
Cyclists will find a wide variety of tours around Bad Hall and Adlwang - from enjoyable routes through the foothills of the Alps to more sporty tours with panoramic views. And if you want to immerse yourself even deeper in nature, you can reach the valleys and forests of the Kalkalpen National Park in a short time - a contrast of tranquil cultural landscape and wild unspoilt nature.
Adlwang lives its traditions. The Adlwanger Kirtag, concerts in the town hall or Advent events in the pilgrimage church bring people together. Mask exhibitions, Perchten runs or music evenings in special places such as the Tassilo spring show how alive customs have remained here. Culture is not a programme item - it is part of everyday life.
Adlwang fits naturally into the 360° Alpenland region: short distances to the Mediterrana thermal spa in Bad Hall, excursions to the historic town of Steyr or out into the mountains between Pyhrn and Priel. Nature, culture and exercise intertwine.
Facts & Figures
History of the municipality of Adlwang
The oldest place of pilgrimage in Upper Austria - between vastness and silent power.
Adlwang is one of the oldest places of pilgrimage to the Virgin Mary in Upper Austria and its history is still visible in the townscape and lifestyle today. The first traces of human use date back to the Celtic Noric period and the Roman province; archaeological finds prove an early settlement in the area. After the Romans left, the area was developed by the Bavarians. This development is closely linked to the founding of Kremsmünster Abbey in 777, which colonised and Christianised the region and provided pastoral care for centuries.
The first documented mention of Adlwang dates back to 1180, and as early as 1300, foundations indicate that an important Marian pilgrimage site had developed here. In 1431, Pope Eugene IV granted the church an indulgence, which gave the pilgrimage an additional boost. Adlwang reached its heyday in the Baroque period: in 1696, over 1,000 masses were said here every year, and in 1700 it was elevated to a superoriate. At the time, the town was referred to as the "Mariazell of Upper Austria"; between 1700 and 1784, around 2.7 million communions have been recorded. These figures tell of a spiritual attraction that had an impact far beyond the region.
Adlwang has had its own parish since 1794 and became an independent political municipality in 1893. Step by step, a settlement area characterised by a monastery became a self-confident town with a growing identity.
To this day, the late Gothic pilgrimage church "Seven Sorrows of Mary", the Holy Well and the traditional Adlwang Kirtag (fair) characterise cultural life. History is not a museum here, but part of everyday life - a living tradition between church, village square and countryside.
In 360° Alpenland, Adlwang thus fits into a larger whole: between the spa town of Bad Hall, historic towns such as Steyr and the natural worlds around the Kalkalpen National Park. A place where past and present come together - and where vastness can be felt not only in the landscape, but also in the mind.
Things to know about Adlwang in 360° Alpenland
Adlwang is known as a place of pilgrimage and is valued for its combination of nature, culture and religious customs. This combination of spiritual tradition and gentle landscape characterises the attitude to life in the south of the 360° Alpenland.
The three Saturdays after 29 September are the main pilgrimage times in Adlwang. They stand for living customs in the 360° Alpine region.
The traditional Adlwanger Kirtag is celebrated on the first three weekends in October. Pilgrimage and fair have gone hand in hand here for generations.
Numerous hiking trails lead around the village through hills, meadows and forests; several routes are described. Nature that moves you - step by step.
The Holy Well is a central destination of the pilgrimage and part of the spiritual tradition. A quiet place surrounded by greenery.
The gentle landscape is ideal for cycling tours between Bad Hall, Adlwang and the river valleys towards Steyr. Exercise and far-reaching views are close together.
The quiet location, the proximity to the Mediterrana thermal spa in Bad Hall and the short distances to the surrounding area make Adlwang ideal for conscious time-outs.