Article Hejnice
A city where history meets nature
About 16 km northeast of Liberec, in the foothills of the Jizera Mountains, lies the town of Hejnice, which houses one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Central Europe. The town is dominated by the magnificent Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary and the adjacent Franciscan monastery.
History and present
Hejnice, promoted to a town by Emperor Charles I in 1917, has a rich history associated primarily with its pilgrimage site. In the 19th century, it experienced development thanks to industries such as porcelain, paper and textile factories, and in 1900 it gained a railway connection. Today, Hejnice is a popular starting point for trips to the Jizera Mountains and is still a vibrant cultural and spiritual center.
Pilgrimage site
According to legend, the history of the pilgrimage site dates back to the 13th century. The story is told of the healing of a seriously ill woman and the mother of a small child. A wooden chapel was allegedly built at the site of the miracle under the linden tree in 1211. In 1498, a stone Gothic church was solemnly consecrated here. Later, a basilica and a monastery grew up here.
Today, the pilgrimage site is alive with year-round church and cultural and social life, making it an important place of dialogue and meeting.
Basilica
On the site of the original Gothic church, a new monumental Baroque church was built during the reign of the Gallas family. The church was consecrated with great pomp on July 1, 1725. It is the largest sacral building in the Liberec Region and is protected as a National Cultural Monument.
The Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary is today the venue for regular services, pilgrimage festivals, and irregular classical music concerts.
Franciscan monastery
An integral part of the pilgrimage site is the Franciscan monastery, located next to the basilica. It was built by the Gallas family in 1692–1696 according to a design by architect Marco Antonio Canevalle to serve as a base for the Franciscan brothers who cared for the ever-growing number of pilgrims.
The monastery is now open to the public all year round and serves as an educational, conference and pilgrimage house: The former monastery became the International Center for Spiritual Renewal in 2001. It offers modern accommodation with a capacity of 67 beds, conference facilities and a restaurant. It is an ideal place for meetings, seminars and individual relaxation in the middle of the Jizera Mountains.
