Kalwarie w Czechach

Calvaries in the Czech Republic

Summary: Analysis of the history of calvaries and stations of the cross in the Czech Republic has shown that they were built at about the same time as in other places in Central Europe. The first Czech calvary was built in Římov (1658-1670). During the 1660s and 1690s, calvaries were erected in Starý Hroznatov, Kraliky, as well as Kadaň. The oldest calvaries were built by the following religious orders: Jesuits (Římov, Česky Krumlov, Bohosudov, Starý Hroznatov), Franciscans (Kadaň, Mníšek pod Brdy), Servants of Mary (Kraliky), and Cistercians (Krzeszów). Other calvaries were built by lay people (Jistebnice u Tábora and Jiřetin pod Jedlinou) as well as local priests. The communist era from 1948 to 1989 did not favor the construction of calvaries or stations of the cross and none were built during that time. Today, there are 112 registered calvaries and stations of the cross in the Czech Republic. Most of the stations of the cross were built during the 19th century (46%). In the 17th and 18th centuries, the erection of calvaries was also commonplace. In the 19th and 20th centuries, stations of the cross played a significant role in Czech society. There exists a clear abundance of these structures in the southern and northern parts of the Czech Republic. Most calvaries today serves as tourist destinations. Only a few still serve as centers of pilgrimage. Six calvaries are pilgrimage centers of national importance. Pilgrimages tend to focus on the person of the Virgin Mary and treat visits to calvaries as supplemental activities. Calvaries are potential destinations for religious tourists as well as people seeking to discover Czech national heritage. Especially attractive are calvaries located high above small towns. In this particular case, calvaries represent outstanding observation points which have not yet been fully recognized by commercial tourist guides. Calvaries have been experiencing a kind of rebirth after 1989 with commercial purposes replacing religious ones.

Domański B., Kurek W. (red.), 2009, Gospodarka i Przestrzeń. Prace dedykowane Profesor Danucie Ptaszyckiej-Jackowskiej, IGiGP UJ, Kraków, s. 41-49.

Instytut Geografii i Gospodarki Przestrzennej UJ

ISBN 978-83-88424-45-8

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