For more than 600 years, pilgrims have been coming to Kleinenberg to visit the miraculous image of “Mary—Helper of the Mountain.” The Marian pilgrimage is closely linked to the history of the town and continues to shape church life in Kleinenberg to this day.
The pilgrimage site includes the pilgrimage church, the Stations of the Cross with the High Cross, the Fountain of the Mother of God, and the Lourdes Grotto. Highlights of the pilgrimage year are the pilgrimage days marking the Visitation of Mary and the Nativity of Mary. On these days, groups of pilgrims from the region come to Kleinenberg to participate in church services and candlelight processions.
Kleinenberg Mystery Plays
Every few years, the story surrounding the pilgrimage is brought to the stage during the Kleinenberg Mystery Plays. Amateur actors portray scenes from the life of Mary, drawing on biblical accounts and church traditions. The Mystery Plays have now become an integral part of the pilgrimage festivities in Kleinenberg.
