Basilica of Saint Hostyn
Although today the Czech Republic is a country dominated by non-believers, there are a large number of religious monuments in our territory and many of them are important places of pilgrimage. The most important Marian pilgrimage site in Moravia is the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Svatý Hostýn. It competes for the post of the most important place of pilgrimage in the whole republic with only one building, namely the basilica of the same name on the Holy Mountain, which is older but less visited. The Basilica on Svatý Hostýn is, among other things, one of the highest sacral buildings, rising on the western peak of Mount Hostýn at a height of 718 meters.
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Interesting facts Basilica of Saint Hostyn
On the site of the basilica, there have been variously rebuilt chapels since the 13th century. The legend of the origin of the place of pilgrimage tells of a miracle by which the Virgin Mary saved many local people in the 1840s. At that time, the Tatars invaded the area and people were looking for salvation on the Hostýn hill. They prayed fervently, and the Virgin Mary heard them when she lit them with lightning and destroyed the Tartar camp.
The construction of the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary began in 1721 and was consecrated in 1748. Plans for its construction were drawn up by the architect Ignác Josef Cyrani as a central building surrounded by a cloister with chapels. The western facade is bordered by two prismatic towers built obliquely to the body of the church. They used to be finished with baroque domes, today quadrilateral pyramids are placed on their tops. The middle part of this facade is a mosaic of the Virgin Mary with an area of 26 m2, which is composed of special slides imported from Italy in the number of a huge 260 thousand pieces. This Madonna of Hostýn was created in 1912 by Viktor Foerstr.
Hostýn Hill and the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary standing on it are a significant dominant feature of the otherwise flat area of Haná. In addition to the church, there are also buildings serving as accommodation for pilgrims, there is the famous Stations of the Cross Dušan Jurkovič, but also a lookout tower, which offers an amazing view of the surrounding area.
Author: Martina Limbergová