Autobahnkirche Dolina, Road church in Grafenstein, Austria.
Autobahnkirche Dolina is a shrine next to the A2 motorway with a high nave and two-sided choir arrangement. The structure is supported by concrete pillars and creates a modern church building for travelers.
In 1849, three Slovenian girls reported seeing the Virgin Mary at this location. The shrine was built between 1861 and 1863 to honor this significant account.
The interior holds a wooden Madonna from the 15th century and stained glass by Giselbert Hoke that shape the sacred space. Red wall paintings by Johanes Zechner create a warm spiritual setting for those who enter.
The shrine offers travelers on the A2 a quickly accessible place to rest and pray. Access from the highway is straightforward, making it suitable for drivers who need a brief stop.
This shrine was Austria's first motorway church, blending religious devotion with modern transportation infrastructure. The combination shows how traditional places of worship adapted to 19th-century daily life.
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