Basilica of St. Ann

The Basilica of St. Ann is the big pilgrimage church west of Kapellplatz, built to absorb the crowds that the small Chapel of Grace never could. Its scale is the point: wide nave, high vaults, and enough room for major services when the town fills with pilgrims.

It lacks the intimacy of the chapel, but it shows the modern side of Altötting's pilgrimage life. Visit it after Kapellplatz to understand how a small shrine became a regional religious centre.

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A story
The basilica was built in the early 20th century because Altötting's older churches could no longer hold the crowds arriving on major pilgrimage days. It is one of the largest church buildings in 20th-century Germany, designed for assembly as much as contemplation.