Torchlight Hike and Vigil for the Assumption of Mary – Marienweiher
Guided torchlight hike from Hinterrehberg to Marienweiher Basilica on the eve of the Assumption of Mary
About Vigil Marienweiher
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The Assumption of Mary in Marienweiher
Marienweiher is one of Bavaria's oldest and most magnificent pilgrimage sites – the Pilgrimage Basilica of the Visitation of Mary was built between 1718 and 1721 in Rococo style. The site belongs to the market town of Marktleugast in the Upper Franconian district of Kulmbach, on the edge of the Frankenwald forest. The Assumption of Mary on August 15th has been the most important pilgrimage day for the Basilica for centuries.
The Vigil: Torchlight Hike on the Eve
On the eve (August 14th), the Vigil Torchlight Hike takes place as one of the most impressive events of the pilgrimage year. Pilgrims and guests gather at the rural Hinterrehberg Chapel (arrival by shuttle bus at 4:30 PM from Marienweiher). From there, the torch procession leads through the districts of Neuensorg and Marktleugast back to Marienweiher – approximately 8 km through the evening landscape of the Frankenwald.
Devotion in the Basilica
Upon arrival in Marienweiher, a devotion / night prayer follows in the Baroque Basilica. The prayer begins around 9:00 PM and utilises the unique atmosphere of the nocturnal church interior. Thus, the Vigil is both a hiking event and a sacred devotion – a special form of religious and cultural experience in the Frankenwald.
Event Tradition
The Marienweiher Pilgrimage Office has organised the Vigil for years as a fixed event in the pilgrimage calendar. The date – always on the eve of the High Feast of the Assumption of Mary – is listed in the church calendar and the event calendar of the market town of Marktleugast. The path from Hinterrehberg is signposted and easy for visitors unfamiliar with the area to follow.
Marktleugast and the Frankenwald
Marktleugast is located in the Kulmbach district, on the edge of the Frankenwald Nature Park. The region is known as the 'Frankenwald Pilgrimage Region' – with Marienweiher as one of the most important pilgrimage destinations for pilgrims from Franconia, Thuringia, and Saxony. The Assumption of Mary pilgrimage festival with its evening Vigil is one of the annual highlights of this region.
Vigil Marienweiher — edition 2026
Vigil 2026
On the eve of the High Feast of the Assumption of Mary, Friday, August 14, 2026, the annual Vigil torchlight hike will take place in Marienweiher. The date is confirmed in the official pilgrimage calendar of the Basilica of the Visitation of Mary and the event calendar of the market town of Marktleugast.
As in previous years, the event begins with a shuttle bus that takes pilgrims and guests from Marienweiher to Hinterrehberg Chapel at 4:30 PM. From there, the torch procession leads approximately 8 km via Neuensorg and Marktleugast back to the pilgrimage Basilica. The event concludes with a devotion / night prayer in the nocturnal Basilica starting at 9:00 PM.
Programme Vigil Marienweiher 2026
Schedule August 14, 2026
- 4:30 PM – Shuttle bus from Marienweiher to Hinterrehberg Chapel (Departure at the Pilgrimage Office / Basilica)
- From approx. 5:00 PM – Start of the torchlight hike from Hinterrehberg via Neuensorg and Marktleugast to Marienweiher (approx. 8 km)
- 9:00 PM – Devotion / Night prayer in the Pilgrimage Basilica of Marienweiher
Spiritual Context
The Vigil is the eve of the High Feast of the Assumption of Mary (August 15th), one of the most important Marian feasts in the Catholic Church and in Bavaria (public holiday in predominantly Catholic municipalities). Marienweiher has been one of the most significant Marian pilgrimage sites in Franconia for centuries.
Highlights Vigil Marienweiher 2026
- Torchlight hike on the eve of the Assumption of Mary (August 14, 2026)
- Approximately 8 km through the evening Frankenwald
- Devotion / Night prayer in the Baroque Basilica of the Visitation of Mary
- Shuttle bus to Hinterrehberg Chapel organised
- One of the most significant Marian pilgrimages in Upper Franconia
Prices Vigil Marienweiher 2026
Free admission. Donations towards the pilgrimage Basilica and the Pilgrimage Office are welcome. Shuttle bus is free or by donation.
Practical information — Vigil Marienweiher
Arrival and Shuttle
Marienweiher is located in the Kulmbach district in Upper Franconia. By car via the B85 (Kulmbach–Bayreuth) and via Marktleugast. By train to Stadtsteinach or Kulmbach station, then continue by bus or car. For the Vigil, the Pilgrimage Office offers a shuttle bus from Marienweiher to Hinterrehberg Chapel starting at 4:30 PM.
Schedule
4:30 PM Shuttle to Hinterrehberg – Torchlight hike via Neuensorg and Marktleugast – Devotion / Night prayer starting at 9:00 PM in Marienweiher Basilica.
What to Bring
Weatherproof clothing, sturdy footwear, and a torch or lamp are recommended. The route is approximately 8 km long and leads through unlit country roads and paths.
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Vigil Marienweiher at a glance
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