Mária kegyhely

Gazing upon the serene Mária kegyhely, nestled within the embrace of Budakeszi’s Mária-szurdok, one can almost hear whispers of history. This place of worship, built in 1738, holds tales as timeless as the ancient oaks surrounding it. Mária kegyhely’s story intertwines with the devotion of Thalwieser Katalin. She brought with her a replica of the revered Einsiedeln Madonna from her native Switzerland in the 18th century. Giving thanks to the Virgin Mary for her happy marriage, Katalin placed the cherished image upon an oak tree in the Hidegkút forest. Shepherds and foresters passing by were drawn to the image. Many spoke of miraculous answers to their prayers. A humble wooden chapel was built around the image in 1800. This was a gesture of gratitude from a woman from Buda who regained her sight after praying before it. The chapel, commissioned by the landowner Terstyánszky Ignác, soon needed expansion. A “Mária remetei Boldogasszony-Kápolna Egylet” was formed to build a larger church to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims. With a generous donation from a Buda resident, the foundation stone for a new sanctuary was laid in 1898. Within a year, a magnificent neo-Gothic church, designed by Schőmer Ferenc, rose to grace the landscape. The Virgin Mary statue at its altar stands as a beacon of hope. Today, the tokens of answered prayers, visible in the church, speak volumes of the countless miracles witnessed here. A particularly poignant piece is a votive painting depicting the Óbuda silk reeling factory. This dates back to the great flood of 1838. The church and the faithful were served by Servite fathers from 1928 until their expulsion in 1950. Designated a parish in 1945, Mária kegyhely continues to be a haven of peace. The name “Remete”, meaning hermit, connects this sanctuary to its spiritual roots in Einsiedeln, Switzerland. The original site of the revered Madonna.