The Maria Almer pilgrimage - better known as the Bartholomä pilgrimage - is one of the oldest high mountain pilgrimages in Europe. The walking time is around nine hours and is a demanding challenge. The history of the Alm pilgrimage dates back to 1635, when legend has it that it was initiated by the people of Saalfelden in gratitude for a number of survived plague epidemics. Originally, the Hirschau peninsula with the St. Bartholomä chapel was a stopover on the pilgrimage. The actual destination at that time was Bad Dürrnberg near Hallein.