Holy Hill - Basilica and National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians — Attraction in Town of Erin

Holy Hill is not just a destination, it is truly a special, blessed experience. I’ve never met a person who isn’t moved in some way by their visit to Holy Hill. Many Wisconsin residents don’t realize how lucky we are to have such an amazing Church in our state. People literally come from all around the world to visit Holy Hill. It truly is a one of a kind place. I visited Holy Hill frequently during a very difficult and challenging time in my life, often on a daily basis, and it always provided me with the comfort and hope needed to stay strong and weather the storm. The many tears of sadness I shed at Holy Hill during that extremely rough time are now replaced with tears of happiness and gratitude whenever I visit.

Upon entering the main upper Church one can’t help but be impressed by it’s impressive size, classic architecture, and special feeling in the air. The lower Chapel offers the perfect surroundings for quiet prayer and reflection, filled with a peaceful silence that is a rare gift in today’s fast paced world.

Walking the Stations of the Cross is a beautiful experience, but please keep in mind that it is a quite long, sometimes challenging walk up and down hilly terrain. Climbing the 178 stairs to the top of the scenic tower is also a challenge, but the view from the top is beyond worth it. Be sure to bring your camera along!!!!

The large gift shop offers a huge variety of items. Prices aren’t necessarily cheap, but they’re comparable to most other stores that carry similar items. The cafe offers reasonably priced and tasty food that can be enjoyed in a cozy dining area with additional pleasant views of the grounds. It’s the perfect place to relax, refuel, and enjoy conversation after visiting the Church and surrounding grounds. The sandwiches and soups are delicious!!!

Perhaps most importantly, experiencing Holy Hill and it’s surroundings can be enjoyed and appreciated by people of any faith. That alone is a real testament to the unique, special nature...

I truly enjoy this place, for multiple reasons. There are 2 different entrances; a back entrance that leads to many trails and a main entrance (which consists of a gravel parking lot). The view of the church from below is superb! It reminds me of Hogwarts. The tower that leads to the top is incredible! What a hike and what a view to get to the very top! The grounds are mostly beautiful, with statues of Mother Mary atop the hill. Throughout the outside sanctuary, there are bars with arrows on top that surround the individual statuary scenarios of Jesus carrying the cross to his death. I found that a bit threatening for someone coming to visit. From the perspective of a visitor, it suggests that there's a lack of trust and fear of property damage. I think having the statuary behind glass/plastic (in that case) would've been better. However, I couldn't help but wonder if they do this to protect the $ that gets tossed onto the grounds of each scene. Why wouldn't they have a separate box for $ deposit next to the scene, then? It seems rather dark, to me. This is supposed to be a place of peace. Perhaps they could use some better ideas for their strategies because having sharp black bars up in front of each scene of Jesus is just not making that space as peaceful as it could. It's problematic and not only that, but it distracts from the beauty of each scene. Dogs are allowed outside, but not inside of the church. That is understandable. I appreciate the memorials located throughout the property. The inside of the church is remarkable. There are many good things about this place, overall. I truly hope that if someone from the staff reads my review that they seriously consider what messages they're sending to the public with their sharp black bars around the scenes of Jesus and work towards removing them because they are barriers to the purity of the...

What a lovely place to visit. Church services are offered at two different levels. There is a preliminary deck for some beautiful views for miles around. There's also a tower consisting of approximately 170 steps that can be climbed to get expanded views for many many miles around. If you opt for the tower, please be mindful of those coming up and down the stairs because it is extremely narrow and cannot accommodate multiple people walking up and down at the same time in portions of the staircase. Bring your patience and enjoy the gorgeous view from the top. Fall colors are breathtaking, so it's a great time to visit. Be prepared for steep climbs; however, for those who are physically limited, there are also elevators available to get up to the viewing deck as well as either first or second level for mass services. I would recommend visiting both levels. There is also a large gift shop with a variety of wonderful options to select for everyday, and holiday gift-giving as well as special occasions such as christenings, weddings, Etc. You will also find a small Cafe, But be sure to check for hours because it's not always available. There are also food vendors on the property as well as ample parking, though be prepared to park at the large lot which then requires a walk up a relatively steep driveway to reach the basilica. For visitors with physical limitations, it's best to pull up to the upper landing right in front of the entrance to the gift shop. The entry where the gift shop is located has restrooms to the left and slightly down the hall to the right you will find elevators. If you plan a visit for Sunday services, please just remember it will be quite busy. This beautiful Basilica/property is so...