Holiday apartment in Marianka – pilgrimage and the Little Carpathians

Marianka is the oldest pilgrimage site in Slovakia. At the same time, Marianka was the first Marian pilgrimage site in the former Kingdom of Hungary.

Culture and pilgrimage

The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is originally Gothic and preserves its Gothic construction. Most of the architectural monuments in the Marian Valley date from the Baroque period. At the beginning of the 18th century, the Marian Way was created there between the church and the Chapel of the Miraculous Spring. Six accompanying chapels were built along the way, dedicated to events from the life of the Virgin Mary and her feast days.

The Rotunda Chapel of the Holy Spring was built in 1696 over a miraculous spring. The Stations of the Cross in Marianka consist of 14 stations, including 13 chapels, and feature fifty life-size statues. The Lourdes Grotto was built in the first half of the 20th century. The most important annual event in Marianka is the Marian pilgrimage on the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary on 8 September.

Marianka is also part of a cultural route extending beyond the municipality: the Bratislava–Hodonín section of the European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius passes through Marianka.

Mining and heritage protection

In the Marian Valley, next to the third Marian Chapel, there is a mini-exhibition on slate mining. It is considered the smallest mining exhibition in Slovakia and, using photographic and documentary materials with expert explanations, provides an overview of the history of slate mining and its processing. The preserved slate adit with three mining chambers is not open to the public.

The eastern part of Marianka’s heritage zone belongs to the Malé Karpaty Protected Landscape Area.

Landscape

The pilgrimage site of Marianka lies in an area of the Little Carpathians surrounded by forests. The Stations of the Cross are located in a wooded landscape on a slope above the Lourdes Grotto, on the left bank of the Mariánsky potok. This stream was formerly called Kláštorný potok.

Hiking and cycling

The signposted circular route “Na Pajštún” leads from Marianka via Borinka, Pajštún, Pod Kozliskom, Dračí hrádok, Svätý vrch and Klčovanice back to Marianka. The hiking trail begins at the SAD bus stop above the monastery grounds in Marianka.

The walking trail from Marianka to Rača runs via Malý Slavín, Pánova lúka and Malá Baňa and is approximately 10 km long. Another option on two wheels is the 30 km cycling circuit from Devínska Nová Ves via Devínske jazero, Stupava, Marianka and Záhorská Bystrica; it has an elevation gain of 300 m.

The cycle route to Marianka follows the yellow cycle-tourism sign “C”, also known as cycle route 8008. It runs along a dirt track to Marianka’s main square. The “Devínske jazero – Stupava – Marianka” cycle route ends in Marianka; its final section also runs along a dirt track.

Other places

Also visit the local pages for Stupava, Malacky, Lozorno and Borinka.

To the higher-level travel overview: Malatzka.