Pilgrimage Gößweinstein

A Centuries-Old Pilgrimage Tradition

The Pilgrimage to Gößweinstein is among the most significant Trinity pilgrimages in Germany. As early as 1599, records state that a new rectory was built due to the "pilgrimages taking place almost daily and annually at this location." The pilgrimage developed not from a documented miraculous event, but gradually grew from the veneration of a Marian Coronation group, a devotional image created in Bamberg around 1500.

The Basilica by Balthasar Neumann

With the increase in pilgrim numbers beyond Franconia and the Upper Palatinate, a larger pilgrimage church became necessary in the 18th century. Between 1730 and 1739, the famous Baroque master builder Balthasar Neumann designed the current basilica, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, making Gößweinstein the religious center of Franconia. The structure is considered one of the region's outstanding sacred buildings.

Pilgrimage Season from May to October

From the beginning of May to the end of October, the basilica is open daily from 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM. Every Friday at 10:00 AM, there are guided tours and organ concerts. Throughout the season, numerous procession and pilgrim groups from the parishes of Franconia and the Upper Palatinate make their way to Gößweinstein. A well-known tradition is also the walking pilgrimage from Gößweinstein to Vierzehnheiligen on the weekend after Ascension Day — from May 15th to 16th, 2026.

Anniversary Year 2026

In 2026, Gößweinstein celebrates its 950th anniversary. The anniversary year offers numerous events, insights into history, and a varied program — a special setting for the pilgrimage season in the market town of Gößweinstein in the Forchheim district, right in the heart of Franconian Switzerland.