Marianka

Marianka ( German Mariatal, older even Marient [h ] al; Hungarian Máriavölgy; Latin Vallis Mariana ) is a municipality and the oldest Marian shrine in Slovakia. It lies on the western slopes of the Small Carpathians, about 6 km north of the Slovak capital Bratislava. The community was until 1927 the Slovak name Marianské údolie and was 1979-1993 Mariánka.

According to legend, a living here Hermit has carved a statue of Mary in 1030 and hiding as a result of the chaos of war in a hollow tree trunk. In 1300, then a blind beggar is supposed to have with the help of a voice from heaven found in the forest a source with the promise that he would see again, he would be washed out with the water of the spring eyes. He did this was to see again and immediately saw a statue of Mary, which was the source. He built a wooden pillar, on which he placed the statue, whereupon straightway began pilgrimages to the statue of Mary and the miraculous spring.

On 16 May 1367 the foundation stone was of Hungarian King Ludwig I put on a pilgrimage church and the place given to the Pauline Fathers, who built a monastery next to the church. Thus, this is also the first documentary mention of the place. Over time, the church and monastery were built, where the monastery was a theological college, which at times even had the right to award a doctorate.

In 1786 the monastery was abolished by Emperor Joseph II and looted the valuable art objects in part. For many years the monastery was used as a hunting lodge of various noble families and had been ruined. Monks came only in 1927 with the Congregation of the Comforter of Gethsemani (abbreviated CCG ) after Marianka who had operated again after several interruptions during the Second World War and the Communist rule from 1990 to 2003 the church and convent.

The Gothic church of Nativity of the Baroque style in the late 17th century, involving in particular Prince Esterházy made ​​. Next to the church is the former Pauline monastery, which was expanded in 1593, and the St. Anne's Chapel from the beginning of the 18th century.

From the church a path with six chapels from the 18th century leading to the holy wells, a baroque dome of the end of the 17th century. On a hillside above the Holy Way of the Cross fountain was built in the years 1930-1936, the impressive statues come in life size of the Kuttenberger Schnitzer B. Becka.