Altötting – Home of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

For more than 1250 years Altötting has been the spiritual centre of Bavaria and for more than 500 years the most significant place of pilgrimage in Germany in veneration of the Virgin Mary. More than 1 million pilgrims and visitors per year seek the Black Madonna which is kept inside the Chapel of Grace, the small sacred building in the middle of the chapel square. From May to October numerous pilgrimages and festive church services take place. The highlight 2006 was of course the visit of Pope Benedict XVI on September 11th with the festive celebration of a Holy Mass on the chapel square.

As he once wrote: “I was fortunate to be born near the city of Altoetting. The many pilgrimages to Altötting with my family are among my oldest and fondest memories.”
In Altötting special offers like the “Altötting pilgrimage weekend in the footsteps of Pope Benedict” as well as themed city tours are available for those wanting to explore the pilgrimage city.

Altötting is also the starting point of the 248 km long Benedict Trail, a biking trail that links the places where Pope Benedict XVI spent his early and later childhood.

Tourist information
Regions: Upper Bavaria
Languages spoken: German, English, Französisch, Italien