Adlwang has been a pilgrimage site since the end of the 17th century. When planning your trip, its religious history and natural monument offer distinct focal points. The pilgrimage church and several chapels provide specific historical points of interest; the spherical stones along the Hallerwald circular trail add a geological dimension. The recurring “Golden Saturday Nights” in October are another highlight. You can first decide whether pilgrimage history, a natural monument or the event weekend will be the deciding factor for your stay.
Pilgrimage and October dates
Adlwang pilgrimage church is dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary. This dedication establishes a specific connection to Mary; Adlwang itself has been a pilgrimage site since the end of the 17th century. The two details describe different things: the dedication belongs to the church, while the pilgrimage tradition belongs to the place. The “Golden Saturday Nights” offer a special time to visit. They have been held on the first three weekends in October for years; dates on these weekends have also been confirmed for 2026. If you are travelling for the event, check the exact dates for the year you have in mind. This lets you distinguish the fixed October event from the longer-standing history of pilgrimage.
Fountain, chapels and traces of time
The Holy Fountain of Adlwang, also called the “Gnadenbrünnlein” (Little Fountain of Grace), is fed by a spring and certainly dates back to pre-Christian times. The present-day Chapel of the Holy Fountain dates from 1893. These are two distinct points in time: the pre-Christian age refers to the fountain, while 1893 is the year the present-day chapel was built. Natural features and architectural history thus come together at a named sacred site.
The Nikolaus Chapel in Adlwang tells a different story of historical change. It was built in 1987. The branch church of St. Nicolai, belonging to the parish of Waldneukirchen, once stood on this site and was demolished in 1792. The dates therefore mark two separate events in the history of the place: the demolition of the former branch church in 1792 and the construction of the Nikolaus Chapel in 1987.
The spherical stones: a geological highlight
The spherical stones along the Hallerwald circular trail are designated as a natural monument. They are spherical sandstone formations from the Flysch main nappe. These details complement one another without describing the same kind of information: “natural monument” refers to their designation, while their shape, sandstone composition and Flysch main nappe explain their geological classification. Alongside the church and chapels, this offers a different way to shape your trip. If you are particularly interested in geology, the spherical stones can be the nature-focused highlight of your stay; those mainly following the history of pilgrimage will find historical points of interest in the dedication, fountain and chapels.
Plan your journey
Rail travel via Linz Hbf. to Rohr im Kremstal and bus services to Bad Hall and Adlwang are listed as travel options. Check current connections before setting off.
Discover more destinations: Sierning, Bad Hall, Wolfern, Sankt Ulrich Bei Steyr, Maria Neustift, Waldneukirchen, Weyer, Grossraming
See the wider travel overview: Steyr-Land.
