Pilgrimage Tourist Track through the Česká Lípa Region

The “Pilgrimage Through the Česká Lípa Region” is a new tourist track along the Czech-German-Polish border that guides visitors through the unique sacred structures along the foothills of the Lužice and Žitava mountains.

The track is a reminder of the original “Old Pilgrimage” that has been extended towards the east and focuses especially on the religious monuments in the Neise-Nisa-Nysa Euroregion.

The main track starts in Zittau in Germany and leads to Horní Police in Bohemia through eight sites of pilgrimage, close to which six other interesting sites can be found. The individual sites can be visited separately or all together on one track.

Reminder of the famous pilgrimage
The idea of the “Old Pilgrimage” stems from the religious pilgrimage that Anna Marie Františka, Duchess of Tuscany and owner of a manor in Zákupy, underwent in 1724. The duchess, who was a strong believer, had the remains of Saint Paul and Saint Catherine sent from Rome and she gave them to the church in Horní Police – an important Marian place of pilgrimage. During the pilgrimage, the relics of the saints were carried on camels from the castle in Zákupy to the church; the Duchess herself accompanied the procession barefoot. Several small chapels were built at the points of rest to pay tribute. With the exception of the archdeanery to which the duchess contributed in 1723, thus supporting the unparalleled development of Horní Police, this pilgrimage marked the climax of the heyday of the place of pilgrimage.

8 places of pilgrimage:

1. Zittau – Church of Saint Cross (Germany)
2. Oybin – Natural History Museum of the Castle and Monastery (Germany)
3. Jablonné v Podještědí – Basilica of Saint Lawrence and Saint Zdislava
4. Mimoň – The Holy Sepulchre
5. Zákupy – Castle and Chapel
6. Česká Lípa – Augustinian Monastery
7. Jezvé – Church of Saint Lawrence
8. Horní Police – Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary

Six other stations:

1. Cvikov – Calvary, Church of Saint Elizabeth
2. Sloup – Rock Castle and Hermitage
3. Svojkov – “Modlivý důl” rock valley
4. Velenice –Holy Sepulchre Rock
5. Jiřetín pod Jedlovou – Cross Hill
6. Rumburk – Loreta

The churches are open during masses or upon agreement with the parish, and other monuments according to their usual opening hours.

Open
all year round