Exactly when the pilgrimages to Maria Laach began is a mystery.
Church researchers assume that the pilgrimage tradition goes back almost 1000 years. The destination, the Maria Laach parish church, is located on the southern slope of the Jauerling and has largely retained its medieval interior. In 1380, construction of the Gothic church began on the site of the previous church and pilgrimages increased. Pilgrimage vows during the plague and miraculous healings in the 18th century drew more and more pilgrims to the Gothic double altar and its miraculous image of "Maria Sechsfinger". According to legend, the sixth finger of the Madonna kept reappearing even after being painted over. The church is home to numerous art treasures such as the Gothic double-winged altar, the "Maria Sechsfinger" miraculous image and the Kueffsteiner Renaissance tomb.
