Marija Bistrica is the largest sanctuary for the Virgin Mary located in the south-east part of the Croatian Zagorja on the northern hills of Zagrebačka gora, about 30 kilometers from the Capital city. King Andrija first mentioned the town of Bistrica in 1209 while the parish Bistrica was first mentioned in 1334. The name Marija Bistrica is connected to the discovery of the miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary. The miraculous statue was primarily in the chapel in Vinski Vrh, a town close to Marija Bistrica and because of the danger from the Turks, it was sealed in a wall in the parish church of Marija Bistrica were is was rediscovered in 1684. The Croatian parliament in 1715 raised an altar and in 1731 bishop Juraj Branjug dedicated the renewed church to the honor of the Virgin Mary. Since then, Bistrica was more often called Marija Bistrica. The Bishops conference established Marija Bistrica as a national sanctuary in 1971 and made June the 13th its holiday. About 800,000 visitors come to Marija Bistrica every year. Along with the church with the statue, the hill “Kalvarija” should also be visited where many masterpieces of Croatian artists can be seen. Behind the hill “Kalvarija is a convent of the Barefooted nuns of Karmela. The most festive day in the history of Marija Bistrica was October 3rd in 1998 when Pope John Paul II visited Marija Bistrica and beatified Alojzij Stepinac, the late Archbishop of the Zagreb diocese and pilgrim to Marija Bistrica. Not far away from Marija Bistrica, on the road to Zlatar Bistrica is a castle in which the Hellenbach family lives. It is one of the few castles in Zagorje and in Croatia itself that managed to keep the continuity of life and completely keep the interior the way it was in the 19th century. The old crafts are returning and taking an important role in the success of Marija Bistrica. The tradition is getting more and more significant and today Marija Bistrica has the most registered old crafts in the county among which are: the only blacksmith in the county, a few candle makers, pottery makers, and manufactures of wooden products.