křížová cesta (Nové Hrady, okres Ústí nad Orlicí) Way of the cross

Welcome to New Castles. You just put your headphones on so you can fully immerse yourself in the history and beauty of this special place. You are standing on the top that offers a wonderful view and a quiet, thoughtful environment. In front of you, a path that is not just an ordinary path in the landscape but a real cultural heritage that will take you deep into the past. Feel the atmosphere of this place where nature, spiritual traditions and artistic expression are mixed. Do you feel the calm that exists here? This cross road will now guide you through the historical landscape and connect two important places in this area.

Let's go back together to when everything started to form. To understand why this place looks what it looks like, we have to move back several centuries to the eighteenth century. It is a period of enlightenment, an era that has brought a new perspective to Czech countries on culture, science and art. In this fascinating context, namely in 1767, this unique monument was created. Her creation was deeply linked to Countess Anna Barbora Chamaré. It was not just an ordinary initiative, but a project carried out with great care and personal commitment of the Countess, which wanted to enrich this neighborhood with a deep spiritual and artistic element. Thanks to her visionary and financial support, this journey has become a permanent part of the local landscape.

Now pay attention to what's right in front of you. The path you intend to take will lead you from the church of St. James the Greater towards the ruins of the castle of God's house. Note how this route naturally penetrates the terrain with the surface. The entire crossing is made up of fourteen stops. Look at their essence. They're carved into sandstone fries. This material you see here is very typical of this area. Sandstone has its specific texture and colour, which over the years has acquired its own patina, making the monument a part of the country itself. The architecture you can observe here is typical of rococo style. Rococo is known for its fineness, decoration and certain ease, which in this case is perfectly supplemented with natural environment. Feel the harmony between the strength of the stone and the curves of the rococo decoration visible at the stops.

Looking at the details, you can realize the efforts of the masters behind this work. Rococo decoration was designed and realized by the brothers Bartholomew and Václav Hendrich. They were artists of their time who were great at connecting religious symbolism with high artistic style. Imagine their work in 1767 as they carved individual shapes into hard sandstone to create one harmonious whole. The work of these two brothers gives the whole cross path its unique character. Each cut into stone, every fine line of decoration is proof of their craft and artistic feeling. It is a fascinating combination of the visionary intent of Countess Chamaré and the precise execution of the Hendrich brothers.

During your walk, however, you may expect something unexpected, something that deviates from the overall pattern. While most stops are made up of those sandstone fries you've just been looking at, the 12th stop is different. Note that you will see a wooden cross here instead of a stone. This change of material is very interesting throughout the cross road and creates an unexpected contrast in the eyes of the visitor. Why was this particular combination chosen? Why did a wood element appear in one chain of stone stops? It is a small mystery that can motivate you to reflect on the fleeting and durability of the house during your journey to the ruins of the castle.

We now urge you to further explore. Continue along the way, feel the calm of this hill and watch how the view of the surrounding landscape changes as you approach your destination. The road will guide you through a picturesque environment and accompany you to the ruins themselves. Enjoy every step, every stop and beauty of this rococo heritage waiting for you. Thank you for taking this historic journey with us. We'll wait you out for another survey of history.