Catholic Pilgrim Sites in Bohemia

5 days round trip

Day 1
Infant Jesus in Prague
Loreto Church in Prague
Vysehrad (UNESCO) - Cathedral
Pribram - Holy Mountain
overnight in Tabor
8 HOUR ROUND TRIP

Day 2
Klokoty
Kajov
overnight in Cesky Krumlov
8 HOUR ROUND TRIP

Day 3
Cesky Krumlov
Vyssi Brod
U svateho kamene
Trhove Sviny
Telc - overnight
8 HOUR ROUND TRIP

Day 4
Telc
Zdar - Zelena Hora
Kutna Hora - overnight
8 HOUR ROUND TRIP

Day 5
Kutna Hora , Sedlec Ossuary
Zeliv
Sazava
back to Prague
8 HOUR ROUND TRIP

Day 1
Infant Jesus in Prague
Loreto Church in Prague
Vysehrad
Pribram - Holy Mountain
The pilgrims who once traveled tens or even hundreds of kilometers on foot have been replaced by believers and tourists who use cars and buses. Svata Hora is a place to meet God and the Virgin Mary. People deeply believed in Our Lady of Svata Hora, bringing her offerings and uttering prayers in her name. The first archbishop of Prague, Arnost of Pardubice, was known as a great worshipper of the Virgin Mary and an advocate of the small archiepiscopal town of Pribram. The hill Pribram most likely took its name from the shrine on its summit, which was consecrated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Legends speak of a knight named Malovec (Arnost of Pardubice was from the family Malovec), who apparently lived in the 13th century and was miraculously saved from thieves at the site. The 16th century was a time of unprecendented prosperity thanks to the silver mining around Pribram. From that time, people have travelled from afar to worship at the figurine of the Virgin Mary. The chapel at the site is now a part of the present-day basilica. The most famous resident of the site was the blind hermit Jan Prochazka, who moved there after losing his sight. When he was there, his sight miraculously returned to him. Following that, the legend of the Merciful Virgin Mary of Svata Hora began to spread. The first report of the Svata Hora well, with its miraculous water, also comes from this time. The Jesuit order built a pilgrimage site there. The construction of the Svata hora complex began in 1658. Building was completed by the famous Svata Hora stairway leading from Pribram town directly to Svata Hora. In 1932, the figurine of the Virgin Mary was crowned. For this special occasion, the figurine was dressed in golden armor called "the coronation armor." Since that time, a Coronation ceremony has taken place every year. The Jesuit order was abolished in 1773 and Svata Hora was put under the administration of lay provosts. This lasted until 1861, at which time the site was entrusted to the Congregation of the Redeemer, the Redemptorists, whose era has endured despite a break between 1950 and 1990. April 13 1950 was a black day in history. On that date, all monasteries and friaries in Czechoslovakia were shut, and the monks and friars interned and imprisoned at different locations. Monastic oredrs were made illegal - at one point there was even talk of demolishing the entire complex. But even in these adverse times, there were pilgrimages to Svata Hora. In 1978 the venerable pilgrimage site caught fire. The intensity and rapid spread of the fire, together with the presence of secret police, who acted against amateur photographers trying to record the event, reinforced the feeling among people that a conspiracy was involved. Following the Velvet Revolution in 1989, religious life was renewed at Svata Hora. On March 1, 1990 , the Archbishop of Prague, Cardinal Frantiske Tomasek, invited the Redemptorists to return to Svata Hora, where they carry out their beneficial work to this day. Svata Hora has inspired many artists, the most well-known being composer Antonin Dvorak. A visit to the site inspired Dvorak to compose one of his "poetic moods", opus 85. Jakub Jan Ryba , the composer of the famous Czech Christmas Mass, devoted the composition "Svatohorsky kur" (Holy Mountain Chorus) to Svata Hora .

overnight in Tabor
Tabor
The old medieval town from the 14th century Hussite times. The medieval underground passages , totalling around 14kn in length , originating in the linking of the extensive two and three storey cellars of the townhouses above. The temperature underground varies around 10 degrees C/ 50 degrees F all year.

Day 2
Klokoty
St. Mary´s church of pilgrimage was built by the benedictine prelate Didacius Converno in 1701 . The construction was finished in 1730 and its rich Baroque cupolas attract attention from far away. The Klokoty pilgrimages were the most famous in the 19th century . The Way of the Cross which leads to the chapel near spring of Good Water is also interesting .
Kajov
Pilgrimage Church of Mother of God , national cutlural memorial , was built in the years 1471-1485. Since this place of pilgrimage had been very popular , in 1630 it was extended by the building of pilgrims . New parish was built in 1661 and the chapel of st. Jan Nepomucky in 1699. In 1930 monks came to Kajov and intiated reconstruction of the area into the convent.
overnight in Cesky Krumlov

Day 3
seeing Cesky Krumlov
UNESCO NUMBER ONE IN EUROPE Cesky Krumlov is situated on the River Vltava with the ancient town center on one bank and the castle ground on the other bank. The landmark of the panorama of the town is Cesky Krumlov Castle which consists of two parts: the Lower castle with a round tower (built in the 13th century) and the Upper castle, built in the 14th century. The castle was expanded several times. Later, the owners made some Baroque modifications: the chapel was rebuilt, masquerade hall decorated and a new manor theatre built. After Prague Castle, it is the second most outstanding castle in the Czech Republic. The magnificent interiors of the castle are open to the public (historical interiors--two sight-seeing routes). The castle´s viewing tower and exhibition rooms are also open to the public. You can also see the Museum of the famous painter Egon Schiele in the town.

Vyssi Brod
Monastery , national cultural monument , was founded by Vok Rozmberk in 1259. The oldest part of the monastery is today´s sacristy . The Cistercian order was invited to the original chapel whose members started to build St. Mary´s Church . The family tomb of Rozmberks is placed undreneath the presbytery . At present the church was returned to the Cistercian Order and the church with the gallery are accessible to the public .
U svateho kamene - At the Holiest Stone
Trhove Sviny - the Church of the Holiest Trinity
Telc - overnight

Day 4
seeing Telc (UNESCO)
Telc is one of the best preserved ancient towns in the Czech Republic. A combination of pure Renaissance and Baroque buildings, typically grouped, makes Telc one of finest examples of medieval urban architecture. The magnificent square, surrounded by arcaded houses and with a Baroque fountain in its centre, still retains the atmosphere of the Renaissance period. The chateau was originally a Gothic castle from the 14th century, but in the second half of the 16th century it was converted into the Renaissance building. The chateau interiors have rich decoration, carved and painted ceilings, frescoes, and other splendid features.
Zdar nad Sazavou - Zelena Hora (UNESCO)
Zelena Hora - Pilgrim church of St. Jan Nepomucky ( Zdar nad Sazavou ) The construction of the church between 1719-22 was ordered by abbot Vaclav Vejmluva of teh Cistercian monastery in Zdar , admirer of martyr St. Jan Nepomucky and was conferred to architect Jan Balzek Santini-Aichl . On a hill, near the monastery , this excellent architect designed a unique structure of five-tail-star ground plan ( the five stars were supposed to be reflecting in the Vltava river when hangmen threw the latter saint down from the Charles bridge and became one of his attributes ). A year before the church was finished ( 1721) Jan nepomucky was canonized in Rome and the church in Zelena Hor thus soon became the most famous and most visited place of pilgrimage in Bohemia and MOravia during the Baroque era.

overnight in Kutna Hora

Day 5
Kutna Hora , Sedlec (UNESCO)
Kutna Hora is a superb example of medieval architecture. In the Middle ages Kutna Hora was the second most important town after Prague due to silver mines. The core of the town consists entirely of Gothic and Baroque buildings and it is the unique collection of around 457 objects on an area covering 60 hectares.Of the municipal buildings the Italian Court is the most outstanding. It became the mint of the Czech lands.( Minting in Kutna Hora ceased in 1726.) You can see there St. Wenceslas and Vladislav Chapel, the council chamber and museum of coins. One of the best examples of Bohemian High Gothic is the Cathedral of St. Barbora, the patroness of miners, began around 1380 and finished in the 16th century. It is the landmark of the city panorama. Also worth to see is the Ossuary of Sedlec Monastery, 1km behind the town. There are about 40.000,- human bones stored in the crypt, from which the blind monk made the pyramides in the 15th century. The monastery was bought by the Schwarzenberk family and they established the tobacco factory there and one of their artist, Mr. Rint, changed the ossuary into a very bizarre place, he made from the bones the chandelier the coat of arms of the Schwarzenberks and the altar. This is memento mori, symbol of passing character of life.

Zeliv
Sazava
back to Prague

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