Maria Neustift
A place for quiet paths and expansive thoughts
Maria Neustift - Silent paths, open horizons
Between pilgrimage church and forest wilderness.
Maria Neustift lies on a sunny mountain ridge in the Enns Valley, nestled between forests, meadows and sweeping views. At around 613 metres above sea level, the pilgrimage church "Maria Heil der Kranken" dominates the townscape and tells of a long spiritual tradition. Between the Ennstal and Ybbstal valleys, close to the border with Lower Austria, a landscape opens up here that naturally combines tranquillity and movement.
Well-marked hiking trails lead directly from the village centre out into nature to vantage points such as the Freithofberg or the Glasenberg. Pilgrimage routes such as the OÖ. Mariazeller Weg 06 and the Sebaldusweg also make Maria Neustift a place to pause and move on.
Lively village culture, a music society, customs and regional cuisine characterise the community. The result is a place where experiencing nature, pilgrimage and encounters come together - quiet, down-to-earth and in the heart of Upper Austria.
Facts & Figures
History of the municipality of Maria Neustift
Maria Neustift looks back on a long history as a place of pilgrimage in Upper Austria. As early as the 12th century, monks from the Benedictine monastery of Garsten built a small chapel here - the nucleus of today's village. Eight houses were first documented in 1313, when Neustift was a free office of the Lordship of Steyr.
Around 1490, a Gothic hall church was built, which consolidated the importance of the village as a destination for pilgrimages to the Virgin Mary. To this day, the centre of devotion is the Mother of God "Mary, Salvation of the Sick", whose statue of grace was created around 1450. In the 18th century, Maria Neustift was one of the most important places of pilgrimage in Upper Austria.
Maria Neustift has been an independent political municipality since 1851 and has borne its current name since 1934 - as a conscious reminder of its religious roots. To this day, the village is a place of peace and contemplation - nestled in the gentle mountain and hilly landscape between Ennstal and Mostviertel. History and landscape intertwine here and tell of a tradition that has grown over centuries.
Things to know about Maria Neustift in 360° Alpenland
Maria Neustift is located in the district of Steyr-Land in Upper Austria - on a mountain ridge between two Raming streams, nestled in the gentle Alpine foothills of the 360° Alpenland. At around 613 metres above sea level, views open up over forests, meadows and mountain ranges. Between the Kalkalpen National Park and the town of Steyr, the village in 360° Alpenland combines nature holidays, culture and short distances - in a quiet location, yet right in the heart of Upper Austria.
Maria Neustift has been a place of pilgrimage to the Virgin Mary in Upper Austria since the 12th century. The centrepiece is the pilgrimage church "Maria, Heil der Kranken" with a Gothic statue of grace from around 1450. Numerous votive tablets tell of hope, gratitude and healing. Between the mountains and river valleys, a place of contemplation is created here - a cultural and spiritual place of power in 360° Alpine country.
Maria Neustift is located on the Voralpen-Weitwanderweg 04, the OÖ. Mariazell Trail 06 and the Sebaldus Trail. From leisurely strolls to panoramic summit tours, paths lead through forests and over ridges. Hikers in 360° Alpenland combine nature experiences with far-reaching views - and can also reach the valleys around the Kalkalpen National Park via short routes.
Regional country inns serve down-to-earth cuisine with local produce, including typical farmhouse snacks with Neustift sheep's cheese and wood-fired pastries from Schaupp. Culinary delights in 360° Alpenland mean tasting origins: Bread from the region, homemade pastries, honest craftsmanship. Between hikes and pilgrimage churches, a stop-off here is an enjoyable stopover.