Via Sacra is a pilgrimage and tourist route connecting exceptional spiritual places, sacred monuments and artistic treasures across Northern Bohemia, German Lusatia and Polish Silesia. It leads through the landscape of the Three-Country Border, where cultures, trade routes, faith and personal stories have met for centuries. It is a route for those who want to discover the north more slowly – through the silence of churches, monasteries, old roads and places with depth.
Hejnice is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Northern Bohemia. The Baroque complex with the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary and the former Franciscan monastery stands in the landscape below the Jizera Mountains and has attracted pilgrims and visitors seeking peace for centuries. The strong atmosphere of the place, its spiritual tradition and the closeness of the mountains make Hejnice one of the most powerful stops on Via Sacra.
The Small Zittau Lenten Veil is an exceptional spiritual and artistic monument of European significance. Created in 1573, it depicts the Crucifixion of Christ surrounded by the symbols of the Passion, known as the Arma Christi. Today it is preserved in Zittau and recalls a time when such veils covered altars during Lent, leading believers towards focus, silence and contemplation.
Oybin Castle and Monastery is one of the most impressive places on the German section of Via Sacra. The ruins of the medieval castle and monastery stand high on a sandstone mountain, surrounded by the landscape of the Zittau Mountains. The place combines the romance of ruins, spiritual history and views that reveal the cross-border landscape of the north in all its strength.
The Basilica of St Lawrence and St Zdislava in Jablonné v Podještědí is one of the most important spiritual places in the region. The Baroque church with the adjoining monastery is connected with St Zdislava, patron saint of families, the sick and those in need, whose remains are kept in the basilica crypt. Today, regular services are held in the basilica and, during the visitor season, it is also part of a guided tour route.
The Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary in Horní Police is one of the important Marian pilgrimage sites of Northern Bohemia. The Baroque complex with the church, cloisters and bell tower stands in a quiet landscape near the Ploučnice River and still preserves a strong spiritual atmosphere. It offers not only a place for silence and pilgrimage reflection, but also space for cultural and social gatherings, giving the site a living contemporary dimension.
The Johannite Commandery in Český Dub is one of the most important historical traces of Via Sacra in the Liberec Region. It recalls the era of medieval knightly orders, pilgrims and routes that connected this region with the wider European world. The preserved spaces of the commandery offer a unique glimpse into the deeper history of the region and give the journey another dimension – not only scenic, but also spiritual and cultural.
