Largest Croatian Marian Sanctuary soon to have a hotel

Marija Bistrica, Croatia

The Largest Marian Sanctuary, located in Marija Bistrica in the region of Zagorje, will gain a representative four-star hotel in July. This is the renovated Salve Regina hotel, which will, after it has been re-opened, once again be given its original name “Kaj”, meaning “what” in the Zagorje dialect of the Croatian language. The investment is all the more important because Marija Bistrica was until recently the only Croatian sanctuary without a hotel, and visitors had to use private accommodation. Hotel Kaj has a capacity of 150 beds, and the renovation presents an investment of 4.5 million Euros. The hotel will also feature a wellness centre, conference hall and other facilities for visitors who come as pilgrims, for vacation or business. The investor, Sunce Koncern, is also investing half a billion Euros into a health and tourism complex in the Stubice Spa. Marija Bistrica, which is celebrating eight centuries of history this year, has been a well-known Marian Sanctuary since the 18th century, when the Mary statue was discovered which many believe is connected to a great number of miraculous events, acknowledged after detailed investigation. In 1971, the Bishops’ Conference proclaimed Marija Bistrica a national sanctuary and the 13th of July the holiday of Mary of God of Bistrica. Surely, the most solemn day in the long history of Marija Bistrica was the 3rd of October of 1998, when Pope John Paul II visited it on the occasion of proclaiming Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac blessed. Marija Bistrica is also known for being the place where Croatian composer Vatroslav Lisinski composed the first Croatian opera “Ljubav i Zloba” in 1846.