Pilgrimage Trails Are Back in Fashion: Which One Will You Choose?

The Cyril and Methodius Trail

Cyril and Methodius are names of missionaries who are not only associated with their arrival in Great Moravia and the promotion of Old Church Slavonic but also celebrated by many because their feast day on July 5th is a national holiday. This year, since it falls on a Friday, you could potentially explore part of the trail over the extended weekend.

One of the Cyril and Methodius trails connects Bohemia and Moravia along the route from Levý Hradec to Velehrad. This pilgrimage path, with a tradition of over 40 years, begins at the Church of St. Clement in Levý Hradec, the oldest church in Bohemia. It continues through Prague, Průhonice Park, and follows the meandering Sázava River. Along the route, you’ll encounter one of its significant stops – Sázava Monastery. Exploring this route through Central Bohemia is sure to be enriched by visits to Český Šternberk Castle and the chateau in Zruč nad Sázavou as well.

The Říp – Blaník pilgrimage route?

This trail links two prominent Czech peaks. At Říp, the legendary forefather Čech stood and declared: “This is the promised land, flowing with milk and honey.” The mythical Blaník is tied to the famous legend of the Blaník Knights who sleep within the mountain. It seems fitting that these peaks, rich with legends and stunning landscapes, deserve their own trails… and not just one!

Spanning nearly 200 km from Blaník to Říp, you’ll traverse the eastern part of the Central Bohemian Region. The pilgrimage route is divided into stages due to its length. In the initial stage, near Blaník, you’ll pass Vlašim Chateau with its picturesque English park. Further along in the Posázaví region, you’ll encounter Český Šternberk Castle and Sázava Monastery. The journey continues through Kouřim and Stará Boleslav, home to the Church of St. Cosmas and Damian, near the site of St. Wenceslas’ murder. Before ascending Říp, the town of Mělník is the final significant stop.

Considering starting from the opposite direction? From Říp to Blaník offers a completely different route, connecting distinct pilgrimage sites over a longer distance of nearly 300 km. This path includes visits to Libušín with its Přemyslid hillfort, the important pilgrimage town of Tetín, and the picturesque Svatý Jan pod Skalou, renowned for its stunning vistas, making it a photographer’s paradise.

From Březnice to Svatá Hora in Příbram

The pilgrimage route from Březnice to Svatá Hora in Příbram, spanning just 16 km, was established around the mid-17th century. It was inspired by the story of a blind man who, after being visited in a dream by an old man urging him to journey to Svatá Hora, where a small chapel stood at the time, miraculously regained his sight. This joyful event quickly became widely known across the country. Later, Jesuits settled in Příbram and played a key role in erecting a pilgrimage church designed by the renowned Italian architect Carlo Lurago.

Originally documented to have had 16 stops in the form of small brick chapels, today only half of them remain. These chapels are a significant testament to the development of European and Czech culture. Together with Svatá Hora, they form a unique complex in Central Bohemia.