Malenisko, Pilgrimage site in Řetechov, Czech Republic.
Malenisko is a pilgrimage destination in the Vizovice Mountains west of Luhačovice, centered on a church that overlooks the surrounding landscape. A chapel built in the 1800s sits beneath the church altar, providing access to sacred spring water that rises from below.
In 1705, a local miller woman named Anna Vlaštovicová discovered healing springs here after a dream, believing the water could cure her eye ailment. This discovery became the foundation for the pilgrimage site that draws visitors today.
The path with stone reliefs reflects how pilgrims have honored the Virgin Mary here for centuries, with the carvings shaping how visitors experience the site. The works installed after World War I serve as a memorial that visitors naturally encounter while walking the grounds.
The site sits on elevated terrain, so visitors should prepare for some uphill walking when exploring the Stations of the Cross path. Wearing comfortable shoes and allowing extra time for the full experience helps visitors make the most of their visit.
A painting of the Mother of God from the 1700s hangs here, copied from an original work in Austria, showing how art traveled between pilgrimage sites. This artwork reveals the connections pilgrims maintained with other sacred places across the region.
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