Basilica of the Virgin Mary, Brezje

A must-go, if you are visiting Slovenia. Beautiful church and park behind it.

The Basilica of St. Mary Help of Christians is the most famous and most visited church in Slovenia. It is located in Brezje and well known as a pilgrimage site. In present day form it was built in 1900 and in 1988 pope John Paul II raised it's status to a minor basilica. In it, in a side chapel, there is a famous picture of Mary Help of Christians with her child, after which the basilica got it's name. The picture was painted probably in 1800 by the slovenian painter Leopold Layer. The picture itself or better say praying to Mary Help of Christians is believed to have healing effects on people, thus numerous people leave theirprayers and pictures in the chapel. Behing the basilica there is a Nativity museum. If you want to see what kind of nativity sets people use in Africa, South America, Russia and other countries, this is the right place to visit. The museum holds more than 400 sets wrom all over the world. You have to pay a small entrance fee, but it isn't expensive and costs only 3,5€ (in september 2018). It is a place worth to visit for people of all generations.