Youth Pilgrimage to Altötting

Altötting — Bavaria's Lourdes

For centuries, Altötting in the Upper Bavarian district of Altötting has been considered Bavaria's most important Marian pilgrimage site and one of Europe's most significant. The late Gothic Chapel of Grace with the famous Black Madonna image attracts several hundred thousand pilgrims annually. In the Diocese of Passau, this pilgrimage tradition has been particularly cherished by Catholic youth since 1946: in the Youth Pilgrimage, which brings several thousand young people onto the pilgrimage trail.

Five Routes, One Destination

The pilgrimage starts from five different locations in the Diocese of Passau: Regen, Grafenau, Osterhofen, Schönau, and Passau itself. For three days, the pilgrim groups cover their routes — a total of about 90 kilometers to the common meeting point in Altötting. Along the way, walking stages alternate with prayer stops, songs, conversations, and meals in parishes along the routes. A special form of lived youth ministry that has been functioning for almost 80 years and is organized by the Episcopal Youth Office Passau together with the BDKJ Passau.

80 Years of Youth Pilgrimage

In 2026, the Youth Pilgrimage will mark its 80th anniversary. Since 1946 — the first departure after the war years — young people from Lower Bavaria and the Upper Palatinate have been going to Altötting year after year. The motto of the anniversary edition is: "Arriving. Setting off. God is the Lord, also of our time." It captures the tension between finding a home and setting off, which pilgrimage uniquely embodies, and places it in a spiritual context for young adults in 2026.

Closing Service in St. Anna's Basilica

The highlight of the pilgrimage is the joint closing service on Saturday in St. Anna's Basilica in Altötting, usually celebrated by the Bishop of Passau (Bishop Stefan Oster). Several thousand young people celebrate the Eucharist together — a moment of intense spiritual experience and a widely known conclusion to the pilgrimage in Bavaria. The live broadcast via Niederbayern.tv additionally reaches thousands of fellow worshippers at home. The pilgrimage is open to young people aged 14 and over and is firmly embedded in the pastoral care of the Diocese of Passau's youth work.