Saint Mary Church, Baroque church in Luže, Czech Republic.

Saint Mary Church in Luže is a single-nave baroque pilgrimage church built in 1690–1696 on Chlumek hill, with a slightly recessed presbytery and a two-tower facade crowned by a three-sided shield. A terraced ambulatory with eight chapels and two monumental staircases surrounds it.

Countess Marie Maxmiliána Eva Terezie of Žďár had the original 1667–1669 chapel demolished in 1689 and began the present church, built 1690–1696 to plans by Bernard Minelli with G. B. Alliprandi and later Pavel Ignác Bayer. She died in 1690 before completion; the miraculous image was transferred in 1696, decoration ran to 1708 and consecration came in 1713.

The church is a pilgrimage site dedicated to Our Lady of Help, whose miraculous image, a copy of the Passau Madonna painted by Lucas Cranach the Elder around 1552, was brought to Chlumek in 1696. Jesuit brothers carved the altars and statues, and Jan Jiří Heinsch painted six nave altarpieces between 1705 and 1706.

Visitors can view the interior and admire the architectural and craft details throughout the building. It is advisable to check opening times beforehand and respect the space, as it remains an active place of worship.

The hill Chlumek was called a Marian holy mountain, and the church stands on a terrace with an ambulatory of eight chapels and two monumental stairways. The foundress, Countess Marie Maxmiliána Eva Terezie of Žďár, died in 1690 before completion; her body was moved in 1698 into the crypt before the main altar.