Marija Bistrica, the most known Croatian shrine of St. Mary, situated on the northern slopes of Medvednica some 40 km northeast of Croatia's capital Zagreb, has been the central place of worship of the Croatian people for centuries.

The shrine is of a newer date, proclaimed by Croatian bishops the National Shrine of St. Joseph on April 15, 1987. It is built in Dubovac in Karlovac, at the foot of the old town with the same name dating back to the 13th century.