Křížová cesta (Nová Říše) Way of the cross

Welcome to the New Reich, a place where history encounters nature and silence. Right now, you're standing on a hill of Justice, a place with a very strange and deep atmosphere. If you look around you, you'll see elements that make up one of the most important local monuments. There is a granite cross in front of you and it is accompanied by a number of brick chapels in the surrounding area. Feel the serenity surrounding this place, and let yourself for a moment forget the hustle and bustle of the day. You stand in a space that has been reserved for centuries by prayer, contemplation and spiritual journey. The whole area is today protected as a real-estate cultural monument of the Czech Republic, which shows its value not only for local residents but for our whole culture.

Let us now look together at how this place was created and who was its creator. The history of this pilgrimage takes us to the second half of the nineteenth century. It all began in 1863 when the granite cross was erected on the very top of the hill. But it wasn't a random act. The cross was built to commemorate a very important event, namely the thousand anniversary of the arrival of the saints Cyrila and Metoděje on Moravian soil. Imagine what time it was and how strong the sense of belonging with its own roots and the faith that drove people to such a construction. Ten years later, in 1873, this place grew further. On the initiative of the premonstrate monastery, the cross road itself was created. It was made up of thirteen walled orchid chapels, which were to assist pilgrims in their spiritual pilgrimage and meditation over the suffering of Christ.

Now pay attention to the architecture before you. Note the material from which the cross is made. It is granite, a stone known for its hardness and resistance, which symbolizes eternity and bitterness. Look at the chapel. They are walled and have a very specific architectural shape. Notice that all the chapels have identical shapes, which creates a harmonious and rhythmic whole. It is this uniformity of style that leads the visitor to a sense of order and peace. The chapels are made up of niche, which served as a space for a painting or a statue, and are distributed so as to form a path that man slowly passes through.

If you look closer at the granite cross, you'll see the cast iron body of Christ on it. It is important to know that what you see today is the result of careful care and recovery. In modern times, specifically between 2010 and 2013, the whole pilgrimage site underwent an extensive general repair. In 2010, the removal of funnel trees and the modification of the surroundings began to become visible and accessible again. In 2012, the cross was completely restored, it was this cast iron corpus, and a copy of the commemorative plate was attached to it, which reminds us of the original sacred intention. One year later, in 2013, the restoration staff focused on the chapel itself. They repaired four of them at the very top of the cross and three others which are located on the road towards Zdenkov. Thanks to this work we can admire these buildings today in such good condition.

When we think about this place, we can't ignore the personalities associated with it. Even though we do not know the chapel architects, spiritually, Cyril and Metoděj are connected to this hill. These two brothers, the apostles of the Slavs, brought baptism to Moravia, and with it the scriptures, which fundamentally affected the development of our languages and culture. It is their legacy that is here, on the hill of Justice, tangible. It's fascinating to think that the cross you see was built precisely to remind them of their arrival thousands of years ago. It's where the ancient faith meets the nineteenth century and the present.

You might find one interesting thing that makes this place special. The cross road isn't just a set of buildings, it's a sophisticated space. Note how it is located east of the village Nová Říše. The hills in this area often served as landmarks, but also as places of deep silence and prayer. The fact that it was created on the initiative of the premonstrate monastery shows the strong influence of ordinary communities in the organization of spiritual life in the region. The mystery remains the names of the particular craftsmen who created these granite and masonry elements, but their work has lasted more than a century and still tells their story to anyone who rises here.

Now that you know the history and meaning of this place, I invite you to further explore. I suggest you slowly go through the whole cross road, stop at each of the chapel and perceive the silence of the surrounding countryside. Try to imagine the pilgrims from the nineteenth century who walked here with hope and faith in their hearts. Look down the hill at the New Reich and feel the space surrounding you. Let yourself be guided by the path that the monks once designed and built by craftsmen, and take a moment of peace in the arms of nature and history.

Thank you for spending this short time with us at the Cross Road in the New Reich. We hope this recording has helped you better understand the beauty and importance of this pilgrimage place. We wish you a pleasant further journey and many inspiring experiences in discovering our cultural monuments. Goodbye.