The Pilgrimage Church of Our Lady on Gorca stands on a hill above Malečnik, among vineyards on the edge of the Slovenske gorice hills. First mentioned in written records in 1493, its Late Gothic structure was completed in 1517. A Way of the Cross with fourteen chapels leads up to the sanctuary. The hilltop offers views of the Drava River, Maribor, Pohorje and the surrounding vineyards.
The main altar contains a Late Gothic statue of the Virgin Mary and Child from the mid-16th century. Other treasures include Baroque altars, votive paintings and an unusual 17th-century depiction of Christ in the Winepress, linking Christian symbolism with the local winegrowing landscape. The interior was redesigned in the Gothic Revival style in the 19th century, with paintings depicting scenes from Mary's life.
The church has served as a pilgrimage destination for centuries. Closed in 1785 during the reforms of Emperor Joseph II, it later reopened. In 2023, it was granted a spiritual affiliation with the Papal Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome. Together with its cemetery and chapels, the church preserves Malečnik's religious and artistic heritage.
Contact
Malečnik 34
2229 Malečnik