Maria Loreto Starý Hrozňatov Pilgrimage resort

Maria Loreto in the Old Hrozňatov is a Baroque pilgrimage resort located in the Cheb part of the village Hrozňatov. This historical complex was built between 1664 and 1689 by the Cheb Jesus, inspired by the Holy hut in Loreto. The area became famous not only for its architecture, but also for its rich history, which includes a period of prosperity, decline and subsequent renewal.

The creation of Maria Loreto was linked to the baroque boom and counter-reform in Europe. The Cheb Jesites began the construction of the complex in 1664, when the Great Cross Road was also born with 29 stops and chapel of God's grave. This journey was designed according to the Jerusalem Via Dolorosa and had a length of several kilometers, ending at the Loretian Chapel. The first mass in the chapel of the Virgin Mary was held in 1667, which meant the beginning of her pilgrimage office. The area was completed in 1689 with the support of local residents and benefactors of Countess Heissenstein.

Architecturally, Maria Loreto is characteristic of her Baroque style. The Chapel of the Virgin Mary of Loretánska, situated in the centre of the complex, is shaped like the Holy Shack and is covered by a valb roof with a burnt cover. The tower above the entrance to the complex is prismatic with bell tower and covered with low needle roof, ending with a massive double onion beating. Ambits around the chapel are decorated with corneal chapels dedicated to various saints and new images of the life of the Virgin Mary, which have been painted since 2001 by academic painter Jaroslav Shindler.

The history of the complex is rich in dramatic changes. After the abolition of the order of Jesuits in 1773, the loret went under the administration of the parish in Cheb, which turned it into a popular pilgrimage site with frequent processes and later established by a separate parish. In 1951, the last mass served on the loreta was the beginning of its decline. The area was located in the border zone and quickly decayed; In 1952, the tower of the bell tower burned down and the adjacent school was demolished. After a few years, the pilgrimage site was completely destroyed, with a broken device, leaky roofs and a crumbling masonry.

The restoration of Mario Loreto began after 1989, when the borders were opened. The first pilgrims came to the premises in 1993, which led to discussions about its future. Anton Hart, a former senior resident displaced in 1946, founded the Society to support Maria Loreto's pilgrimage site and became its chairman. Under his leadership, funds were collected from both Germany and the Czech Republic. In 1994 Czech Society Maria Loreto was founded in Cheb, which supported the work of reconstruction. The reconstruction of the complex was supported by many institutions, including the Czech-German fund of the future and the Ministry of Culture.

Today Maria Loreto is in the Old Hrozňatov renewed pilgrimage area, which serves as a place of spiritual meeting and reconciliation of Czechs and Germans. The area has a repaired chapel of the Virgin Mary of Lorethanski, the church of St. Spirit, ambition and chapel of God's grave and crucifixion. In 2002 the garden pavilion was built and in 2005 the social background of the complex was improved by a new building with toilets and kiosk.

Maria Loreto is today an accessible pilgrimage place, which is worth visiting not only for its historical significance, but also for the beauty of its architecture and the atmosphere of the place. It is a monument that recalls the importance of reconciliation and cooperation across national borders.