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Seven Chapels Church, Vác

The church is located on the southern part of Vác, close to the Danube bank. According to historical sources, its construction began in 1711.

A legend tells about a carpenter in Vác who, after recovering from his sickness, placed a statue of Mary at a spring. The spot later became a shrine and a destination of pilgramages. The church was built here and the shrine was placed on its main altar.

In 1769, canon Ferenc Wirth places seven picture-columns along the way to the church which represent the seven joys and seven sorrows of Mary. The church was named after these shrines. According to legend, the hermit Vácz was also living here.

The church, dedicated to Mary, and the park around it have been a protected pilgrimage site since 1815 during which pilgrims take "medicine" from the healing spring. The pilgrimage is held every year on the first Sunday after the Feast of Holy Name of Mary (12 September). Many pilgrims come from far away and arrive one day early to wake at the site through the night. The Mass of the Holy Name of Mary is held at the open air altar built in 1947.

The seven stations with chestnut trees above them, leading to the church are magical sight worth visiting.