Maria Bildstein, Catholic pilgrimage church at Benkner Büchel, Switzerland
Maria Bildstein is a Catholic pilgrimage church located at the summit of Benkner Büchel, a glacially formed hill in canton St. Gallen. The building constructed in 1966 features a covered gallery with 550 seats and remains under the administration of the St. Otmarsberg Benedictine Abbey.
The pilgrimage began in 1519 when Johann Heinrich Jud carried a Marian statue to the hilltop, sparking construction of a stone shrine. Over subsequent centuries, it grew into a major destination for local believers.
The pilgrimage site developed around devotion to Mary that became deeply rooted in the region over centuries, shaping how local believers understood their faith. Visitors today find spatial expressions of this religious commitment in the grottoes and throughout the hilltop grounds.
The site sits atop a hill and can be reached with a gentle climb, while the covered gallery provides shelter during rainy weather. Multiple pathways lead to the summit, allowing visitors to choose a route suited to their abilities and available time.
Between 1881 and 1883, several grottoes were carved into the hillside, echoing the design of sacred mountains from the Baroque period. These man-made caves remain a distinctive feature of the grounds today.
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