The Marian Pilgrimage Route is an international cultural and walking trail connecting Marian shrines from Poland through Slovakia and Austria to Slovenia and Croatia. Its Slovenian section extends for 409 kilometres and includes 45 checkpoints where pilgrims can collect stamps in a pilgrimage passport. The route brings together religious traditions, cultural heritage and varied landscapes.
Near Maribor, the trail leads from St Peter's Parish Church in Malečnik, past the Stations of the Cross, to the Church of Our Lady at Gorca. Fourteen chapels dating from 1847 mark the ascent to the sanctuary on a hill at the edge of the Slovenske gorice Hills. Built in 1517, the church preserves Late Gothic and Baroque architectural features and historic religious artworks.
At 346 metres above sea level, Gorca offers views of the Drava River, Maribor, Pohorje and the vineyards of Slovenske gorice. This section combines pilgrimage history, church architecture and the landscape of northeastern Slovenia, appealing to walkers interested in the region's cultural heritage.