Máriagyűd

Máriagyűd, a district of the town of Siklós, is the most famous Catholic place of pilgrimage in South Transdanubia. The history of Máriagyűd goes back to the 12th century.

The first church was built by King Géza II in 1147, but its heyday was in the 18th century when it became the Baranya county centre of the cult of the Virgin Mary revival at the time of the counter-reformation.

The twin-spired pilgrimage church of Máriagyűd and the cloister were home to Franciscan monks offering mental care for those in need. The statue of Mary in the church is from 1712. On the hill belonging to the pilgrimage church a Calvary was built, the reliefs of the stations of the cross being made in the Zsolnay porcelain factory of Pécs.

East of the pilgrimage church we find the Holy Well. Its water was taken home in “Gyűd jars” by the pilgrims visiting here.A church festival is held in Máriagyűd on every St. Mary’s Day and on the more significant Catholic holidays, a total of 25-27 festivals a year. The annual number of pilgrims visiting Máriagyűd is estimated at 500,000. Máriagyűd was officially recognised as a place of pilgrimage by Pope Pius VII. in 1805.

On 14 September 2008 the pilgrimage church was granted the rank of Basilica Minor by Pope Benedict  XVI.

Church festival days in Máriagyűd:

• The festival day of the place of pilgrimage is 2 July, which is supplemented by five major and several smaller church festivals:
• Whitsun – Roma pilgrimage
• Sunday of the Holy Trinity
• Our Lady – youth church festival (“Sarlós Boldogasszony”)
• Our Lady – main church festival (“Nagyboldogasszony”)
• Our Lady – main church festival, festival for the German community (“Kisboldogasszony”)

Sights of interest:

• Pilgrimage place of Máriagyűd
• Csodabogyó (Butcher’s Broom) educational path

How to get to the Villány Wine Region?

Pilgrims are also accomodated by the Domus Mariae Pilgrimage House operated by the Episcopacy of Pécs:
Programme office (in Pécs): 36/72/513-080
Pilgrimage House ( Máriagyűd) : 36/72/579-373
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Service providers

Kakasbonbon