Falkensteinkirche, Protected pilgrimage church in Sankt Gilgen, Austria
Falkensteinkirche sits high above Lake Wolfgangsee against a rock face and contains four chapels on the eastern side plus one on the western side. The interior displays stations of the cross, and the surrounding area preserves natural springs and caves within the rock formation.
A chapel at this location was first documented in 1350, while the current structure was built in 1626 by Johann Wilhelm Luger. The complex grew over the following centuries and developed into an important pilgrimage destination in the region.
The church has drawn pilgrims for centuries due to its dramatic clifftop setting and natural springs in the landscape. The location holds spiritual significance for visitors today, who experience the same sense of sacred space that attracted worshippers in earlier times.
The church sits on the St. Rupert Pilgrim Route between Sankt Gilgen and Sankt Wolfgang and is accessible on foot. Visitors should expect steep paths and wear sturdy shoes, especially if exploring the natural areas around the site.
From 1659 to 1811, hermits lived at this location in a skete, a form of monastic retreat in nature. This religious practice has become rare today, and traces of that era remain visible in the rock areas below the church.
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