Well, it looks like it’s really happening (leave pending). The Rev’d Dan Beesley and myself will be heading off in August 2026 on a huge pilgrimage around the Marian Shrines of Europe.
We plan on visiting all the major shrines and a good number of the smaller ones. The pilgrimage will cover just under 8000m and take about five weeks. We’ll be filming the adventure for our YouTube Chanels and who knows, perhaps we’ll convince the BBC this is a good sequel for A Vicar’s Life.
The initial list of Shrines is below, along with an evolving map. If you have any suggestions for those we’ve missed we’d love to hear from you.
Austria
Our Lady of the Bowed Head, Vienna – https://thecatholictravelguide.com/destinations/austria/austria-vienna-lady-bowed-head/
Mariazell Basilica – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariazell_Basilica
Belgium
The Virgin of the Poor, Banneux – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Banneux
Our Lady with the Golden Heart, Beauraing – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Beauraing
Bosnia
The Virgin of Medjugorje – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Medjugorje
England
The Blessed Virgin of Glastonbury, Somerset – https://www.glastonburyshrine.co.uk/
Our Lady of Walsingham, Norfolk – https://www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk/
France
The Three Shrines of Chartres –https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartres_Cathedral
Our Lady of La Salette – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_La_Salette
Our Lady of the Smile, Lisieux – https://archives.carmeldelisieux.fr/en/la-vie-de-sainte-therese-de-lisieux/la-maladie-de-therese-a-10-ans/la-vierge-du-sourire/
St. Bernadette, Lourdes – https://www.lourdes-france.org/en/bernadette-soubirous/
Our Lady of Hope, Pontmain – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Pontmain
Our Lady f the Miraculous Medal, Rue de Bac, Paris – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miraculous_Medal
Germany
Our Lady with the Golden Horse, Altötting – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrine_of_Our_Lady_of_Alt%C3%B6tting
The Chapel of Mercy, Kevelaer – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevelaer
Italy
Our Lady dell Guardia, Genoa – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrine_of_Nostra_Signora_della_Guardia
Our Lady of the Rosary, Pompeii – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrine_of_the_Virgin_of_the_Rosary_of_Pompei
Our Lady of Montallegro, Rapallo – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctuary_of_Our_Lady_of_Montallegro
Salus Populi Romani, Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_Maggiore
The Weeping Madonna of Syracuse, Sicily – http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/syracuse.htm
Basilica della Santa Casa – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_della_Santa_Casa
Netherlands
Star of the Sea, Maastrict – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Our_Lady,_Maastricht
Poland
The Black Madonna of Czestochowa – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Madonna_of_Cz%C4%99stochowa
Portugal
The Virgin of Fatima – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_F%C3%A1tima
Spain
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Garabandal – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garabandal_apparitions
La Morentea, Montserrat – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_of_Montserrat
Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral-Basilica_of_Our_Lady_of_the_Pillar
Switzerland
Our Lady of Einsiedeln – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einsiedeln_Abbey
