Geheimnissäulen auf dem Weg nach Maria Plain, Religious architectural ensemble in Bergheim, Austria.
The Geheimnissäulen are a set of 16 stone columns arranged along a pilgrimage path that climbs toward a mountain sanctuary. Each column contains a protective box housing religious paintings on metal plates inside.
An anonymous donor commissioned these columns in the early 1700s following a political victory. This act linked a secular event to religious expression.
The columns serve as places where pilgrims stop and pray along their journey to the mountain shrine. Visitors naturally pause at each one to look at the images and spend time in reflection.
The path goes uphill and requires moderate physical effort over a longer distance. Wear comfortable shoes and allow plenty of time for a leisurely climb.
Tucked between two of the columns stands an older shrine from the 1500s that shaped the religious character of this place long before the columns were built. This blend of different time periods shows how the pilgrimage route grew over centuries.
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