Mariastein Abbey

Heaven on Earth

Mariastein (St. Mary in the Rock) is known as a place of pilgrimage and Shrine of Our Lady, located in the border triangle region and dating back to the 14th century. Legend has it that a child fell from a precipice here and was rescued by the Virgin Mary.

Culture and enjoymentHiking and nature

Mariastein is the second most popular place of pilgrimage in Switzerland after Einsiedeln. Visitors from far and wide, as well as many pilgrims, culture lovers and those seeking peace and tranquillity, make the journey to this holy place. According to legend, this is the very place where a child fell from the cliff and was saved from certain death by the intervention of the Virgin Mary.

The place of Grace “im Stein” (“in the rock“) was first documented in 1434. The main focus of the pilgrimage is an underground cave – now a chapel – containing a miraculous image of the smiling Madonna. The Abbey with its Baroque pilgrimage and monastery church sits on the famous cliff.

5th Solothurn forest hike – four routes around Mariastein

The forest hike takes you around the Mariastein Convent on four routes. Panels along the routes inform hikers about the connections between the images of the forest and the local characteristics such as the soil and climate. The forest images, landscapes and historical sights can be discovered on sub-routes. The entire route is around 44 km in length.

The Mariastein Convent is the focus and departure point. The route takes you into three areas of the Leimental: to the Blauen north face to the Grat, over the lower Jura hills that form the plateau from Metzerlen-Hofstetten to the north and to the oak forests along the French border in the Roderdörfer Zipfel.

The 44 km forest hike is probably too much for one day. We recommend enjoying the forest images, landscapes and historical sights on sub-routes.

Useful information

We recommend the following sub-routes:

  • Mariastein-Flüh sub-route: 10.5 km
  • Mariastein-Metzerlen sub-route: 16 km
  • Hofstetten sub-route: 13 km
  • Rodersdorf-Burg i.L sub-route: 17 km

  • Requirements: sturdy shoes, healthy joints
  • Demanding sections: Landskron-Flüh section
  • Food and drink: picnic at marked spots or dine in restaurants
  • Between Burg i.L. and Leymen the route is the same as the "Circuit des trois châteaux du Jura aslacien"
  • In Rodersdorf, the forest hike crosses the "Border culture trail" several times; at post 47 it connects with the "Sentier des grands arbres".

Information about the entire series of forest hikes available at:
 www.waldwanderungen.so.ch (in german)

Further information about the forest in Canton Solothurn
 www.wald.so.ch (in german)

Reservations

Not required

Travel dates/Validity

Route open all year
Travel-date details/validity: view timetable/timetable information

Timetable/timetable information

 Timetable 50.069
 Timetable 50.113

 www.sbb.ch

Contact details

Mariastein Benedictine Abbey
4115 Mariastein

Tel. +41 (0)61 735 11 11

Bicycle transport

No bicycle transport fixtures available in/on the vehicle

Wheelchair accessibility

Wheelchair access to the postbus guaranteed