pilgrimage church
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pilgrimage church
A church that is the destination of a pilgrimage, often because a relic is venerated there or a miracle is said to have happened there.
Jedes Jahr pilgern Tausende von Gläubigen zur Wallfahrtskirche in Altötting.
Every year, thousands of believers make a pilgrimage to the pilgrimage church in Altötting.
The word is made up of 'Wallfahrt' (pilgrimage) and 'Kirche' (church). A 'Wallfahrt' is a pilgrimage. So a Wallfahrtskirche (pilgrimage church) is a church that is the destination of such a religious journey. The 's' is a linking element.
Diese alte Wallfahrtskirche ist über 500 Jahre alt.
This old pilgrimage church is over 500 years old.
To describe movement to a pilgrimage church, you use the preposition 'zu' (to) or 'nach' (to) if it is a place. To describe being there, you use 'in' (in).
Die Gruppe pilgert zur Wallfahrtskirche auf dem Berg.
The group is making a pilgrimage to the pilgrimage church on the mountain.
Common verbs used with this word are 'pilgern' (to make a pilgrimage), 'besuchen' (to visit), or 'besichtigen' (to tour/visit). It is also often described with adjectives like 'berühmt' (famous), 'bekannt' (well-known), or 'historisch' (historic).
Wir haben auf unserer Reise eine berühmte Wallfahrtskirche besichtigt.
On our trip, we visited a famous pilgrimage church.
sanctuary
'das Heiligtum' and 'die Wallfahrtskirche' can both mean a religious place that people visit and venerate. However, 'Heiligtum' is more general: it can be a church, a temple, a shrine, or another holy place. 'Wallfahrtskirche' is more specific and means a particular type of church that people make a pilgrimage to for religious reasons. The words can be confused because a pilgrimage church is often also a sanctuary. If you only want to say that a place is holy, 'Heiligtum' fits. If you are explicitly talking about a church as the destination of a pilgrimage, 'Wallfahrtskirche' is more natural.
Die Wallfahrtskirche ist jedes Jahr das Ziel vieler Pilger.
The pilgrimage church is the destination of many pilgrims every year.
Auf der Reise besuchten wir ein bekanntes Heiligtum in den Bergen.
On the trip, we visited a well-known sanctuary in the mountains.