The Catholic shrine at Șumuleu Ciuc (Csíksomlyó in Hungarian) is the spiritual heart of Hungarian-speaking Catholicism in Transylvania and one of Central Europe's largest annual pilgrimages. The complex consists of a Baroque pilgrimage church built in 1804 — itself replacing a medieval Franciscan church — the adjoining Franciscan monastery, and the open hillside above where the Pentecost mass is celebrated each year on the Saturday before Whitsun.
Inside the church, the painted wooden statue of the Virgin known as the Csíksomlyó Madonna is the focus of devotion. The figure dates from around 1515 and is considered miraculous; the queues to touch it at major feast days can be lengthy. Outside the pilgrimage period, the church is usually quiet and freely accessible. The footpath up to the saddle behind the church takes about 30 minutes and gives a wide view over the Csík Basin.