Discover Gutwasser: Church, Stations of the Cross and Mining History

Gutwasser combines sacred art, an unusual Stations of the Cross and traces of a long mining history. Those looking for more than just accommodation during their stay, but also distinctive discoveries, will find a place here with a clearly recognizable cultural focus.

Baroque Church and Stations of the Cross

The Church of Panny Marie Bolestné is the focal point. It was built from 1733 to 1735 based on a design by Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer. Thanks to its high-quality painted and stucco decoration, it is one of the outstanding examples of Baroque architecture in South Bohemia. The church can be visited throughout the year, providing a permanent cultural point of reference for your stay regardless of any specific event date.

The Stations of the Cross, including a Holy Sepulchre, run around the church. Their chapels were built between 1837 and 1839. Another special feature is their artistic renewal: the original Stations of the Cross paintings were replaced in 1996 with new works by the academic painter Renata Štolbová.

Water and Mining History

The history of Dobrá Voda is also closely connected with water. A chapel stands above the spring and has had its present appearance since 1830. The healing effects of the water from Dobrá Voda were recognized at an early stage. At the same time, the ore deposits influenced the composition of the water emerging from the rocks in the Dobrá Voda area. This connection between geology, water and local history gives a cultural visit an additional thematic dimension.

Since the mid-16th century, the historic mining area of Dobrá Voda included the extraction of quartz containing predominantly pyrite and arsenopyrite, as well as native gold. These minerals help explain why, alongside the church, the history of the underground is also part of the character of the village. If you would like to combine different interests on your trip, you can bring together sacred art and regional mining history in a single stay.

Pilgrimage and Special Dates

A documented pilgrimage on foot took place on 11 July 2026, passing through Hosín, Rudolfov, Dobrá Voda u Českých Budějovice, Nová Ves and Doudleby before reaching Římov. The route shows that Gutwasser can also form part of a longer religious journey. During the pilgrimage to Panny Marie Bolestné in Dobrá Voda documented in 2026, pilgrims stopped at the individual Stations of the Cross around the church.

Events can also add to the cultural calendar: the event “Tóny Dobré Vody” was scheduled for 6 October 2024 at the Church of Panny Marie Bolestné in Dobrá Voda u Českých Budějovice.

Other Places to Explore

If you would like to compare other locality pages in addition to Gutwasser, you can find Hartowitz, Sitzkreis, Rančice, Srubec, Planá U Českých Budějovic, Zliv, Petříkov and Schwiehalm here.

For the higher-level travel overview: České Budějovice District.