badia heiligkreuz kirche la crusc innen
badia heiligkreuz kirche la crusc innen

La Crusc Pilgrimage Church

The well-known Santa Croce Pilgimage Site (Holy Cross) is located at 2,045 m a.s.l. beneath the majestic Mt. Sasso di Santa Croce

High above Badia, more precisely the hamlet of Oies - the birthplace of St. Joseph Freinademetz - a lovely little church was built almost 600 years ago. The sanctuary was consecrated in 1484 by the Bishop of Bressanone and dedicated to the Holy Cross. However, savants presume that the Santa Croce Church has once been a pagan cult site, dating back to the time when the Alta Badia has been sparsely populated. The name “Col dei Paternostri” (Paternoster Hill) - referring to a place right in front of the church - could be an indication of this presumption.

It is documented that since 1584 Holy Masses were held in the La Crusc Pilgrimage Church, since 1649 even once a week: from the Feast of the Holy Cross on June 6 to the Feast of St. Francis on October 4. In this document also the adjacent hospice was mentioned for the first time which once hosted the sexton as well as the pilgrims. Nowadays the building houses the well-known Rif. Santa Croce in Badia mountain hut.

Inside the church, still today there is an altar in which numerous relicts of Saints are kept. The steeple, which has been constructed in the 17th century, features three big bells. The popular pilgrims’ path which leads to the sanctuary is accessible from the nearby hamlets of Oies and San Leonardo - from the latter also a funicular starts and takes you into the world of mountains. Furthermore, beautiful hiking paths lead you in summer and winter alike to this ensemble, situated near the Armentara Meadows in the heart of the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park.

Contact info

Opening times

  • Tue 19 Mar 08:30 - 16:00
  • Wed 20 Mar 08:30 - 16:00
  • Thu 21 Mar 08:30 - 16:00
  • Fri 22 Mar 08:30 - 16:00
  • Sat 23 Mar 08:30 - 16:00
  • Sun 24 Mar 08:30 - 16:00
  • Mon 25 Mar 08:30 - 16:00

Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.

Full timetables
Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.

La Crusc Cable Car - winter 2024 (08/01/2024 - 07/04/2024)

  • Mon 08:30 - 16:00
  • Tue 08:30 - 16:00
  • Wed 08:30 - 16:00
  • Thu 08:30 - 16:00
  • Fri 08:30 - 16:00
  • Sat 08:30 - 16:00
  • Sun 08:30 - 16:00

Easter 2024 (31/03/2024) 08:30 - 16:00

Easter Monday 2024 (01/04/2024) 08:30 - 16:00

Spring closure 2024 (08/04/2024 - 14/06/2024)

  • Mon closed
  • Tue closed
  • Wed closed
  • Thu closed
  • Fri closed
  • Sat closed
  • Sun closed

Admission

admission to the pilgrimage church:
donation requested

ascent and descent by cable car:
€ 18.70 per person

More information

The opening hours correspond to the ones of the La Crusc 1 Chairlift and the La Crusc 2 Cable Car, which take you in summer and in winter to the La Crusc Pilgrimage Church. Also during the low seasons the church is open, but only accessible by foot (3-hour round hike).

Summer season start 2024 in mid-June.

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