Magdalena-Tag at Latzfonser Kreuz

A religious feast at an altitude of 2,296 meters

The Magdalena-Tag at Latzfonser Kreuz is the feast dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, held every year on the Sunday closest to July 22nd at the Latzfonser Kreuz (Lazfons Cross) sanctuary. Situated at an altitude of 2,296 meters in the Sarntal Alps, it is considered the highest pilgrimage site in Europe. The sanctuary stands on the ridge dividing the Eisack Valley from the Sarntal Valley, within the municipality of Sarentino/Sarntal, in the province of Bolzano, South Tyrol.

The pilgrimage and solemn Mass

The day retains the character of an authentic mountain pilgrimage. In the morning, the faithful begin their ascent to the chapel: a procession with the cross departs early from the Lazfons farms, passing by the Klausner Hütte to reach the sanctuary. At 11:00 AM, a solemn outdoor Mass is celebrated, accompanied by the brass band and the Latzfons parish choir. Following the religious service, the Musikkapelle Latzfons performs a concert for the pilgrims and hikers gathered around the church.

The "Schwarzer Herrgott" sanctuary

Devotion here dates back to the early 18th century, when a wooden crucifix known as the "Schwarzer Herrgott" (Black Lord) was found in Lazfons and displayed at high altitude as a votive cross. About forty years later, pilgrims funded the construction of a chapel around the cross, which was replaced a century later by the current neo-Gothic church dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene. The veneration of the Black Lord remains vibrant today: on the penultimate Saturday of June, the crucifix is carried in procession from the Lazfons church to the mountain sanctuary, where it remains on display until mid-October.

Faith, tradition, and the mountains

The Magdalena-Tag blends spirituality with hiking: participating means sharing a centuries-old tradition of the Sarentino/Sarntal region while enjoying a day in the high mountains among the peaks of the Sarntal Alps. The sanctuary refuge, open seasonally (from May 30, 2026), offers refreshments to the many walkers who climb up for the feast each year.