Bergfest Mariahilfberg Amberg

Pilgrimage since 1634 — the origin on Mariahilfberg

The Bergfest on Amberg's Mariahilfberg dates back to the plague year of 1634. A severe plague epidemic raged in the Upper Palatinate at that time, and the citizens of Amberg built a small chapel on the hill above the city in their distress. A Jesuit rector placed a statue of Mary in a former watchtower, and after a procession of supplication on September 3, 1634, the epidemic subsided within a few months. From this vow of thanksgiving grew one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Diocese of Regensburg — today cared for by the Franciscans, who inhabit the monastery on the mountain.

Festival week around Visitation of Mary

The Bergfest takes place every year around July 2nd — the Feast of the Visitation of Mary. For nine days, believers from all over the Upper Palatinate, from Middle and Upper Franconia, and even from the Czech Republic make their way up to the Mariahilfberg. Highlights include the open-air services in front of the pilgrimage church at 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM, weather permitting, as well as the evening sermons by a festival preacher appointed by the bishop. Individual days are traditionally dedicated to specific groups — youth, seniors, associations, professional groups.

Beer tent, Bratwurst, and Franciscan collection

Around the church and the monastery, the hilltop transforms into a festival ground: the large beer tent of the Amberg breweries, bratwurst stands, cheese stands, and coffee houses welcome pilgrims and day-trippers alike. The proceeds from food and drink benefit the Franciscan monastery on the mountain — so ordering a Maß (liter of beer) directly supports the monks who have cared for this place for centuries. The Mariahilfberg is considered the region's most important pilgrimage site for enjoyment and one of the top events in the Amberg-Sulzbach region.

Candlelight procession to conclude

The climax is always the candlelight procession on the evening of the main festival day: thousands of pilgrims with candles in hand walk from Amberg's market square up to the pilgrimage church — an impressive sight that makes the close connection between the city and the pilgrimage site visible. In the Diocese of Regensburg, the Amberger Bergfest holds a significance comparable to the major pilgrimages of Altötting or Bogenberg.

Location and Baroque pilgrimage church

The pilgrimage church of Maria Hilf towers 514 meters above sea level on the Mariahilfberg, on the southern edge of the Upper Palatinate district town of Amberg. The Baroque sacred building from the 17th century with its famous miraculous image is a magnet for art lovers as well as pilgrims. The ascent via the Stations of the Cross is part of the ritual for many pilgrims during the Bergfest.