Kloster Blieskastel

The origins of the monastery complex trace back to the Holy Cross Chapel, constructed in 1682/83. This chapel houses the 14th-century Pietà “Our Lady with the Arrows,” which, since its rediscovery in the early 20th century, has attracted numerous Marian devotees. As the Blieskastel parish could no longer solely manage the pastoral care for the increasing number of pilgrims, Bishop Ludwig Sebastian of Speyer called upon Capuchins from Bavaria for assistance in May 1924. Construction of the monastery building, designed by Hans Herkommer, began that same year. Following the laying of the foundation stone in October 1924, the monastery was consecrated in July 1925 and occupied in August by Father Justin Bettinger and seven other Capuchins. In 2005, Franciscan-Minorites from the Krakow Province took over the monastery and pilgrimage pastoral care from the Bavarian Capuchins. Between 2014 and 2020, the monastery courtyard was redesigned with funds from the EU and Saarland. Due to the rising number of pilgrims, a house chapel was initially established within the monastery building and consecrated in October 1925. As this also soon became too small, a large pilgrimage hall was built, which, contrary to its original purpose, was consecrated as a church and dedicated to the “Sorrowful Mother” by Bishop Sebastian in April 1929. The church underwent restorations in 1946 and again between 1970 and 1972, during which the altar wall was redesigned and a new altar consecrated. The church organ was built in 1972 by Hugo Mayer Orgelbau. In the Holy Year of Mercy 2015, the monastery church was selected as one of only four churches in the Diocese of Speyer to open a Holy Door, which was ceremonially opened in December 2015.

Blieskastel Monastery is situated in the Saar-Pfalz-Kreis in Saarland, Germany, at an elevation of approximately 257 meters above sea level.

Today, the monastery is an active Franciscan-Minorite monastery and a significant pilgrimage site. It is listed as an individual monument within the “Auf dem Han” monastery complex ensemble in the Saarland’s list of monuments. The monastery church continues to serve as a place of worship for pilgrims and the faithful.

• Montplaisir Castle (Red Building) (Castle, approx. 4807 m away)
• Kirkel Castle Ruin (Castle, approx. 4833 m away)
• Annahof Castle (Castle, approx. 5000 m away)
• Gutenbrunn Castle (Castle, approx. 5152 m away)