Christkindl pilgrimage trail - On the tracks of Ferdinand Sertl

The signposted pilgrimage trail can be walked all year round. The circular route is dedicated to Ferdinand Sertl, who suffered from severe epilepsy for years. In the hope of conquering his illness, in 1695 Sertl placed a small baby Jesus made of wax in the hollow of a spruce tree that stood at the site of the later pilgrimage church. From then on he came there every Sunday and performed his devotions and prayers in front of this "Christkindl". Sertl was cured of his illness, the healing got around and soon pilgrims came with their intentions to the "Christkindl im Baum" or "Zum Christkindl unterm Himmel". In 1697 a small chapel was built around the tree and in 1708 the present pilgrimage church began. The high altar shows the original spruce trunk with the wax Jesus.

First, the path leads from Christkindl to Garsten (walking time approx. 1 hour), where Anselm Angerer was abbot of the then Benedictine monastery, the great promoter of the pilgrimage to Christkindl and generous builder of the church.Then we walk along the river Enns to Steyr to the city parish church (walking time approx. 50 min). Here Ferdinand Sertl was chapel master and caretaker of the city fire watch at the top of the tower.Then it goes back to Christkindl (walking time approx. 30 min). It is the path that Ferdinand Sertl once walked to pray for healing from epilepsy in solitude in front of the wax Christkindl.

Baroque pilgrimage church Christkindl

Christmas Post Office Christkindl (end of November - end of December)

The pilgrimage route is marked with white-green signs and can be walked all year round