The monastery complex on Mount Mother of God near Králíky is awaiting extensive renovation

Králíky (Orlickoústecko) – The monastery complex at Mount Mother of God near Králíky is undergoing extensive restoration. The Roman Catholic Church has received a European grant for the repairs of the national cultural monument, with nearly one million crowns contributed by the Pardubice Region for the project documentation. Construction is set to take place in 2025 and 2026 while the site remains operational, stated the Pardubice Region in a press release.

According to the spiritual administrator of the pilgrimage site, Karel Moravec, the documentation is complete, and a contractor will be sought through a tender. The costs are estimated at 80 million crowns, but they may decrease thanks to the bidding process. The renovation will mainly involve replacing most of the zinc roofing with copper sheet metal. The facades will be repaired, the monastery will have a new elevator, and part of the attic, associated with the history of internment and the stay of the order's sisters, will be made accessible.

The pilgrimage complex was established in the late 17th century by Tobias Jan Becker, a native of Králíky. The entire area, including the church, was completed in 1710. In the mid-19th century, the monastery burned down, leaving little of the Baroque decorations. Repairs took only a year, and the furnishings were restored at the end of the century in a Neo-Renaissance style. The monastery originally served the Servite Order, which was later replaced by the Redemptorists.

During World War II, the Germans used the neighboring Pilgrimage House. In 1950, the communist regime established an internment camp for male religious in the monastery. The complex reopened to believers in 1968.

The first major reconstruction of the Hedč Complex was championed by German compatriot Franz Jentschke, who claimed to have been miraculously healed through the intercession of Mount Mother of God from Králíky. In 1988, preparations began for the restoration of the Stations of the Cross chapels located along the avenue from the town to Mount Mother of God. The exterior repairs of the chapels continued a year later. Once four chapels were completed, communism fell in November 1989. A newly established foundation also provided assistance. One of the largest projects organized by Franz Jentschke was the restoration of the Pilgrimage House from 1990 to 1993, primarily financed by the Redemptorists, with the remaining portion covered by compatriots from Germany.

The pilgrimage site Mount Mother of God was declared a national cultural monument in 2018. It is owned by the church and serves pilgrims, believers, and the general public as a spiritual place with exceptional architecture and artistic decoration. It is approached by a row of trees from Králíky with the Stations of the Cross, which was declared an alley in 2023.