The Czech Republic is a country with a very rich spiritual tradition. For more than a millennium, the country has been building on a Christian tradition, and the Jewish tradition and culture has also played a significant part in its development. The marks left behind by human faith are ubiquitous. It is riveting to journey to churches, cathedrals, monasteries, places of pilgrimage, ways of the cross, but also to minor sacral monuments, to synagogues, which were preserved despite the Nazi oppression, to Jewish but also Christian cemeteries, which have differing, but always very powerful atmospheres. It is fascinating to see all that people have built in the name of faith. Nowadays, we often understand these buildings only as monuments, but for the people of the past, they were places essential for life.

Spiritual and Religious Tourism This Religious Tourism project, intended for the general public, is very ambitious. Its aim is to create the richest menu possible to suit everybody, regardless of their religious beliefs. It offers the option to learn about various sites linked to Christianity and the Christian Church, religious monuments, places of pilgrimage, and others. In principle, it has an ecumenical approach, which respects the diversity of the Christian Church. The involvement of locals provides visitors with an authentic experience of the individual communities. At the same time, it represents new options for the use of religious buildings, and links Christian religious monuments with other accompanying activities. The project website allows you to search for a specific route, place of pilgrimage, sacral building, accommodation, event, or spiritual exercise, and it is a very good and practical aid in the planning of your trip. ▪ www.cirkevnituristika.cz

Cyril and Methodius Trails St. Cyril and St. Methodius are very popular and revered saints in the Czech Republic, as it was they who spread Christianity in the Czech lands. A set of trails in their names is focused on journeying in the footsteps of the cultural roots of the Czech nation. They are designed to connect places of pilgrimage and provide information about the cultural heritage of the early Middle Ages at the same time, so they also link archaeological sites, archeo-parks, Slavic fortified settlements, sacral buildings, statues, paintings, museums, galleries, and libraries. The trails are marked using the traditional tourist markers, and are particularly suitable for hiking. 3 trails in total length of 300 km situated in the east of the Czech Republic are part of the project. ▪ www.cyril-methodius.eu

Open Gates Open Gates, in turn, is a project which represents significant sacral monuments of the Zlín Region. Towns, municipalities, parishes, the Evangelical Church, as well as the Roman Catholic Archbishopric cooperate within its scope. This makes it possible to view selected sites with a guide between May and the end of September. All tours are free (except of tours in Velehrad). The website of the project contains an interactive map of all churches, monasteries, and basilicas included in the project. ▪ otevrenebrany.cz/en/

Velehrad, Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady and of Saints Cyril and Methodius

Jewish Cultural Heritage Up until the Middle Ages, many Czech cities used to have very large and active Jewish communities. The coexistence of Jewish people with the majority population had never been easy. Despite that, there had also been long periods of peaceful and mutually beneficial cooperation, and it was during those that Jewish communities built entire city quarters, synagogues, and cemeteries. The twentieth century dealt heavy blows to the Jewish nation, and many buildings and places of culture were destroyed. However, many have been preserved, and nowadays they attract tourists from all over the world. The Jewish cemetery, Klausen Synagogue, Old New Synagogue, and the Jewish ghetto in Prague, as well as the unique Jewish quarter in Třebíč registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List, are all strong tourist magnets. Unique monuments are spread across the whole country – great synagogues in Pilsen or in Boskovice, a synagogue and large cemetery in Mikulov, the Museum of Dr. Šimon Adler and a synagogue in Hartmanice, the Jewish quarter in Dolní Kounice, mikvah in Dobruška, Jewish cemeteries in Mladá Boleslav, Třebíč, Liberec, and Brno, synagogues in Děčín, Kolín, Břeclav, Krnov, Holešov, Jičín, Turnov, or in Úštěk, and others. Very good orientation is provided by the mobile apps Jewish Bohemia and Moravia, as well as Jewish Trips, which are free to download. App Store

Google play

Download application Jewish Bohemia and Moravia here! Another interesting source of information is the web project Magni Sacred Czech that places an emphasis on making connections between Christian and Jewish themes, which it links in an interesting way. ▪  ww.magni.cz w

More sacred sights

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