Marianka – Pilgrimage, Marian Way and Historic Buildings

Marianka is Slovakia’s oldest pilgrimage site. At the same time, it was the first Marian pilgrimage site in the former Kingdom of Hungary. The most important annual event is the pilgrimage celebrating the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary on 8 September.

Pilgrimage and Architecture

The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is the focal point. It is originally Gothic and preserves its Gothic construction. Most of the architectural monuments in the Marian Valley date from the Baroque period. The European Cultural Route of Saints Cyril and Methodius also connects Marianka with a broader cultural context: the Bratislava–Hodonín section of this route passes through the village.

The sacred complex also includes the Rotunda Chapel of the Holy Spring, which was built in 1696 over a miraculous spring. The Lourdes Grotto in Marianka was created in the first half of the 20th century. The Marian Way between the church and the Chapel of the Miraculous Spring was established at the beginning of the 18th century. Six accompanying chapels were built along the route, dedicated to events from the life of the Virgin Mary and her feasts.

Another defining element is the Stations of the Cross. It consists of 14 stations, including 13 chapels, and contains fifty life-size statues. The complex thus combines different forms of religious architecture and representation within the village.

Slate Mining in the Marian Valley

In Marianka, 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. Using photographic and documentary materials, together with expert explanations, it provides a concise insight into the history of slate extraction and processing.

A preserved testimony to this past is a slate adit with three mining chambers. The adit is not open to the public. The exhibition and the preserved but inaccessible adit therefore belong to two different parts of the local history of slate mining.

Landscape and Trails

The eastern part of Marianka’s heritage zone belongs to the Malé Karpaty Protected Landscape Area. The pilgrimage site is situated in the surroundings of the Little Carpathians, which are surrounded by forests. Cultural monuments and the landscape are therefore connected spatially here, although the heritage zone cannot be equated in its entirety with the protected landscape area.

The Stations of the Cross is also located in a wooded landscape: it lies on a slope above the Lourdes Grotto, on the left bank of the Mariánsky potok, formerly called Kláštorný potok.

Hiking Around Marianka

The signposted circular trail “Na Pajštún” leads from Marianka via Borinka, Pajštún, Pod Kozliskom, Dračí hrádok, Svätý vrch and Klčovanice back to Marianka. The “Na Pajštún” hiking trail begins at the SAD bus stop above the monastery complex in Marianka. The sequence of the places mentioned describes the complete circular route, starting and returning in the village.

Another walking connection is the path from Marianka to Rača via Malý Slavín, Pánova lúka and Malá Baňa. This route is approximately 10 km long.

Cycling Routes to Marianka

For cycle tourism, among others, the circular cycling route from Devínska Nová Ves via Devínske jazero, Stupava, Marianka and Záhorská Bystrica is signposted. It is 30 km long and has an elevation gain of 300 m.

The cycling tour to Marianka follows the yellow cycle tourism sign “C”, also known as cycle route 8008, and leads along a field road to Marianka’s main square. The “Devínske jazero – Stupava – Marianka” cycle route ends in Marianka; its final section runs along a field road.

Further Places

Further destinations in the travel guide: Malacky, Borinka, Stupava, Lozorno.

To the higher-level travel overview: Malatzka.