Pilgrimages to the Holy Mountain: The path full of challenges!

Pilgrimages to the Holy Mountain: The path full of challenges!

A two-day pilgrimage by the Via Nova Pilgrims began on May 29, 2025, starting at 6 a.m. at the Pfarrgarten parking lot in Perlesreut. The pilgrims were accompanied by Rosina Lang and Franz Xaver Ritzinger. Further participants joined the group in Haus im Wald and Zehrermühle. The path first took the pilgrims to Belcice, where the hike continued at the point where a similar tour ended last year. After a short refreshment, the walk began to Zahrobi, a town known for its Celtic ramparts. With an initial pilgrimage impulse that offered a wonderful view of the Bavarian Forest, the group continued on their way.

In total, the group consisted of 22 pilgrims who hiked through smaller towns and along forest and meadow paths to the overnight stop in Breznice. Breznice, which was first mentioned in documents in 1224, lies on the historic Goldener Steig trade route, which led to the creation of a settlement near the fortress there. The first day of hiking ended after a shared dinner with good entertainment before the hike continued under rainy conditions on the second day.

The path to the Holy Mountain

On the second day, the pilgrim companions decided to bridge part of the route by bus before continuing on foot from the town of Lazsko. When the rain subsided, the route continued along a field and meadow path past Vojna, where the climb to the holy mountain Svata Hora began. The group gathered for a period of silence during which hand stones were placed at a wayside shrine. Finally, the pilgrims reached the monastery area of ​​the Marian pilgrimage site Holy Mountain Svata Hora.

This monastery, also called the “Castle of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” attracts pilgrims from all over the world, especially from Germany, Singapore, the USA and France. Father David Horáček, a Redemptorist, noted the high number of German pilgrims who often seek advice from Father Stanislav Muzikář. The pilgrimage has a long tradition; despite the challenges of communism, pilgrims maintained the practice. Nowadays, many pilgrims travel by bus, although walking in ceremonial robes is still part of various pilgrimage events.

The meaning of the Holy Mountain

The Holy Mountain Monastery is a center of Marian devotion in the Czech Republic and features a Gothic carving of the Blessed Virgin Mary, popular among believers. The small, 49 cm high figure made of cherry wood is exhibited daily in the basilica and is artfully dressed on special occasions. The history of the monastery goes back to the 13th century, when a chapel dedicated to the Holy Mother of God was built. The current monastery complex was built in the 17th century under the Italian master builder Carlo Lurago.

Since 1620, the Holy Mountain has been considered an important pilgrimage site, especially after a miracle in 1632 when a man was cured of his blindness. The monastery's bells are widely known as the most beautiful in the Czech Republic and announce the Holy Mass. After being managed by the Jesuits until the mid-19th century, the Redemptorists took over and renovated the monastery during the 1980s. A comprehensive renovation took place between 2015 and 2016, largely financed with EU funds amounting to around seven million euros, which modernized the monastery and, for example, equipped it with an elevator.

The pilgrimage ended symbolically with a pilgrim blessing by a priest who happened to be present, which underlined the deep spiritual character of this event. After the pilgrims visited the monastery, their descent included the popular culinary treat at one of the nearby pastry shops, which is a popular stop for the hikers.