Pilgrimage Maria Birnbaum

Marian Pilgrimage in the Wittelsbach Region

The Pilgrimage Church of Our Lady in Birnbaum, or Maria Birnbaum for short, is located in the municipality of Sielenbach in the Aichach-Friedberg district of Upper Bavaria – in the so-called Wittelsbach Land. It has been one of Bavaria's most important Marian pilgrimages since the 17th century.

The Pietà from around 1600

The focus of veneration is a wooden Pietà from around 1600 – a depiction of Mary, the Mother of Sorrows, with the body of her son. The name 'Maria Birnbaum' comes from the legend that the Pietà was found in a pear tree (Birnbaum) – a motif that appears frequently in pilgrimage stories.

Pilgrimage Year 2026

The annual highlight is the Assumption of Mary on August 15th with the grand Mass in the monastery garden starting at 10 AM. Other important pilgrimage days: Easter Monday (main festival of the Blue Brotherhood and the Brotherhood of the Dead with procession), Whit Monday, December 8th (Immaculate Conception), as well as the fourth Sunday after Easter, the Sunday after July 2nd, September 8th (Nativity of Mary), and the first Sunday in October (Feast of the Rosary). In February, the 40-hour Devotion takes place (February 15-17, 2026).

Under the Protection of the Teutonic Order

Since 1998, the pilgrimage has been managed by brothers and sisters of the Teutonic Order. The church's patronal feast is the Seven Sorrows of Mary (September 15th); the church consecration is celebrated on October 14th.

Pilgrimage Route and Devotion

Maria Birnbaum is the destination of numerous foot pilgrimages – from the surrounding area, from the Ammersee-Lechfeld region, and from the Diocese of Augsburg. Many pilgrim groups have been coming for generations, often with banners and flags from their parishes. Thus, Maria Birnbaum remains a vibrant place of pilgrimage in the 21st century, combining Christian tradition and popular piety.