Poutní areál Maria Loreto, Pilgrimage complex in Starý Hrozňatov, Czech Republic.
Poutní areál Maria Loreto is a pilgrimage complex centered on a chapel surrounded by cloisters that enclose a rectangular courtyard. A seven-kilometer path with multiple stations guides visitors through the grounds and the surrounding landscape.
A Jesuit rector named Jan Jiří Dasselmann founded this pilgrimage site in 1664 as a reflection of the Italian Loreto sanctuary. The creation marked an important moment for religious devotion in the region that shaped its long-term identity.
The sanctuary draws visitors from across the border to share in prayer and reflection within its walls. The way pilgrims move through the courtyards and stations shows how this place remains central to local spiritual life.
The complex is generally open from May through September on weekdays and Sundays, allowing visitors time to explore the chapel and pathway in warmer months. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended since the seven-kilometer route covers varying terrain.
Lightning once struck the walls of the complex but left the Virgin Mary painting untouched, a detail visitors can still observe today. This unusual occurrence gives the interior its distinctive appearance with exposed stone and original plaster layers.
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