In winter, white-tailed eagles can be observed from the banks at Maria Ellend. For a walk by the water, the Maria Ellend–Haslau–Regelsbrunn trail is a good option: it follows a former branch of the Danube where beavers have feeding sites and kingfishers fly by.
Walks and wildlife watching along the Danube
Take the REX 7 train to Maria Ellend/Donau station; from there, it is a ten-minute walk to the trail. Check the current train service before travelling. Near the Krickldamm in the Maria Ellend district, a section of the trail has been made accessible again, and the walkway there has also been repaired.
Another hiking route is Stage 4 of the Römerland Carnuntum Way of St. James. It leads from Maria Ellend to Schwechat and runs partly through the Danube-Auen National Park. The Römerland Carnuntum Cycling Tour 54 is signposted in both directions. Its route runs via Margarethner Weg to Maria Ellend, then along Hofstraße to Maria Ellend station. This offers a choice of routes: the trail along the former branch of the Danube, a stage of the Way of St. James, and a signposted cycling tour.
Pilgrimage history and planning your visit
Since 1929, the Missionaries of the Holy Family have provided pastoral care for the Maria Ellend parish and looked after its pilgrimage site. According to tradition, during the turbulent period around the middle of the 15th century, four children are said to have found a statue of the Virgin Mary on the banks of the Danube. A chapel called “Our Lady in Ellend” was first mentioned in 1466.
Historical milestones can also be seen at the pilgrimage church. The Lourdes grotto was built in 1909 on the opposite side of the street. Please check current access arrangements before visiting the grotto. The mosaic image “Our Lady by the Road” was added to the façade of the pilgrimage church in 1910. The Mission Exhibition offers insight into the worldwide missionary work of the Missionaries of the Holy Family; if you would like to visit, check in advance whether visits are possible.
The monthly pilgrimage is scheduled for the Sunday after the 13th of each month at 6:00 p.m. The main pilgrimage takes place on August 15 at 10:00 a.m. If you plan your trip around one of these dates, confirm the times before travelling. If you are mainly visiting for wildlife watching, winter visitors on the banks can serve as a seasonal guide when planning your trip.
The pilgrimage park invites visitors to reflect, relax and take walks in nature. Your visit can therefore focus on different things: pilgrimage history and dates, trails by the water, or a particular route on foot or by bike. The option that appeals most to you can also help guide your plans for an overnight stay in Haslau-Maria Ellend.
Discover more destinations: Gallbrunn, Höflein Bei Bruck An Der Leitha, Göttlesbrunn-Arbesthal, Bruck An Der Leitha, Sommerein, Wolfsthal, Bad Deutsch-Altenburg, Trautmannsdorf An Der Leitha.
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