Milejovice – Discover Pilgrimage Landscapes and Bohemian Culture

Milejovice and the Pilgrimage Landscape of Dobrá Voda

The character of Milejovice can be experienced particularly through its local chapels and memorial sites, as well as through the pilgrimage landscape of Dobrá Voda. Dobrá Voda is a pilgrimage site two and a half kilometres from Milejovice. The grounds of Dobrá Voda offer views of the South Bohemian landscape. When choosing accommodation in Milejovice, therefore, the focus is not only on individual buildings but also on a clearly defined cultural setting.

Church, Stations of the Cross and Chapels

Construction of the church in Dobrá Voda began in 1889 and was completed on 29 May 1891. It is dedicated to the Queen of Heaven, the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. The Stations of the Cross at Dobrá Voda date from 1891 and consist of fourteen chapels. In Dobrá Voda, the church and the Stations of the Cross are independent elements of the pilgrimage landscape.

Below the Baroque chapel with the healing-water spring, there is another, smaller chapel at Dobrá Voda. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and has a Stations of the Cross with painted images. At the local spring in Dobrá Voda, you may drink the water at your own risk. The Baroque chapel, the smaller chapel and the spring thus form distinct local and cultural points of reference.

Milejovice itself also has small memorial sites. The local chapel stands next to the playground. A monument to the victims of the First World War stands beside this chapel. Outside Milejovice, in the direction of Přechovice, there is a replica of a double-barred cross; the original double-barred cross is kept in a museum in Strakonice. At the site, you will therefore see the replica, while the original is preserved in Strakonice.

For your travel planning, it is helpful to distinguish between the locations: in Dobrá Voda, the church, Stations of the Cross and chapels represent sacred architecture and religious tradition. In Milejovice and in the direction of Přechovice, the local chapel, monument and cross replica are additional memorial sites in their own right.

A Pilgrimage with a Fixed Annual Rhythm

A special date is the annual pilgrimage walk from Strakonice to Dobrá Voda: it takes place on 8 May – or on 7 May when 8 May falls on a Sunday – and follows a route of approximately 16 km. The approximately 16 km make the pilgrimage a longer walk with a fixed destination in Dobrá Voda. Along the route, a stop at the chapel in Milejovice is scheduled for 12:00, with a prayer for the community. During the Dobrovodská pouť, a Mass is held annually in the church of Dobrá Voda.

Other Places in the Czech Republic

If you would like to compare other Czech places in addition to Milejovice, here is a compact selection: Pocatky, Katovice, Strašice, Tchořovice, Zvotoky, Hájek U Bavorova, Bavorov and Štěkeň.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Strakonice.