Maria Brünnlein in Wemding

In short: The church was built over a spring, the Schillerbrünnl. The healing spring is enclosed in the fountain altar today.

The pilgrimage church of Maria Brünnlein zum Trost near Wemding is the best-known pilgrimage church in the Diocese of Eichstätt. It lies on the edge of the Ries Geopark and is the destination of the Wallfahrerweg.

History

The story begins in 1684, when a man from Wemding brought back an image of Mary from Rome. A chapel was first built over a spring, the Schillerbrünnl, and later the present Rococo church. In 1998 Pope John Paul II raised it to a minor basilica.

The spring

For many pilgrims the centre of attention is the fountain altar, which encloses the spring said to have healing powers. There is also the miraculous image from the 17th century. The church is shaped by the Rococo and worth a visit even without a religious reason.

Walking to Wemding

On foot you reach the basilica by the Wallfahrerweg from the Altmühltal. If you do not want to walk the whole route, take just the last section. Many groups from the region come on foot, so ask locally about services and pilgrimage days.