Mariazell — Maria Theresa's Secret Vow
Uncover Empress Maria Theresa's secret vow at Mariazell Basilica. Decode hidden symbols and follow her pilgrimage trail to expose the divine promise that shaped the Habsburg empire.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1750, amid the chaos of the War of the Austrian Succession, Empress Maria Theresa made a desperate pilgrimage to Mariazell, Austria's holiest Marian shrine
Mariazell — Maria Theresa's Secret Vow
You are Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, 18th century Mariazell.
Styria is the stage for your deepest devotions as you arrive in Mariazell, a major pilgrimage site since
Delve into the secrets of the House of Habsburg and unravel an ancient vow at the heart of Mariazell's major Marian Shrine.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The story that haunts this land
Your quest begins on the forecourt of the Basilika Mariazell, the major Marian Shrine where Domenico Sciassio and Benedikt Ortner worked between 1644 and 1683. This baroque edifice, 60 meters long with its 80-meter-high tower, attracts nearly a million pilgrims annually. Here you search for the first clues related to the Battle of Kolin in 1757, a key event that marked the empress's reign. The site is an intangible UNESCO Pilgrimage, rooted in history since the first mention of the statue's miracle in 1157.
Inside the Basilica, the Gnadenkapelle is your next stop. Rebuilt in 1697 after a fire, this adjoining chapel is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was here that Maria Theresa of Austria deposited ex-votos in 1755, following the decisive victory at Kolin. Its 20-meter length and 18th-century frescoes testify to imperial piety. You decipher a hidden message among the offerings, linked to the empress's gratitude and the baroque heritage of Styria.
The route then takes you to the Hauptplatz Mariazell, the main square surrounded by 17th and 18th-century baroque and rococo buildings. This historic 5,000 m² square, site of weekly markets since the 17th century, features a 1715 fountain adorned with allegorical statues. The town hall, rebuilt in 1780, dominates the ensemble. Your mission is to find a symbol engraved on one of the buildings, a clue that will bring you closer to the truth about Maria Theresa's secret vow.
The ascent of Kalvarienberg Mariazell offers a unique perspective on the town and its surroundings. This 1 km long Way of the Cross, with a 200-meter elevation gain, is dotted with 14 baroque chapels dating from 1730 to 1750. Funded by pilgrim donations, they lead to a summit cross from 1785. Here, you must observe the architectural details of these chapels to reconstruct a historical sequence that will lead you to the Pfarrkirche St. Lambertus, founded in the 14th century.
Your journey concludes near the Pfarrkirche St. Lambertus, a parish church rebuilt in late Gothic style around 1500, with its 50-meter-high tower and baroque altar added in 1730. It has served the local community of Mariazell since 1330. It is here that you assemble all the fragments of Maria Theresa's vow, understanding the importance of the intangible UNESCO pilgrimage and the baroque heritage of Styria. You leave with a deep understanding of Mariazell's history and the motivations of a devout empress.
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Imperial Manuscripts
Uncover the secrets of a forgotten register, written by Maria Theresa herself.
Pilgrimage Mystery
Follow the footsteps of an Empress seeking salvation for her empire.
Habsburg Legacy
Uncover the influence of Europe's most powerful dynasty on Mariazell.
The fate of an empire hung by a thread, sealed by a secret vow.
Will you uncover the Empress-Queen's forgotten oath?
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
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Your turn to play
Delve into the secrets of the House of Habsburg and unravel an ancient vow at the heart of Mariazell's major Marian Shrine.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
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