We invite you for a half-day trip to the places that were sacred already in the times of pagan ancestors and to which many legends about miraculous events and recoveries are related. We are now talking about the Holy Hostýn which is the dominating feature of the Podhostýnsko microregion and the far-famed pilgrimage shrine and tourist place for many years

You will find here a basilica consecrated to the Virgin Mary, who according to the legend saved local inhabitants from the Turkish invasion in 1241. Another historical sight worth seeing are the Stations of the Cross by the Slovakian architect Dušan Jurkovič, decorated with a mosaic by Jan Koehler. The near-by Caesar Franz Joseph I. stone Look-out tower dating from 1897 is open to the public during the summer season. There is a modern wind power station alongside the look-out tower.

Come with us to discover the Holy Hostýn - a mysterious place ravishing thousands and thousands of pilgrims every year.


How to get to Holy Hostyn

By bus - bus transport to the Holy Hostýn is very frequent, buses depart from the Bystřice pod Hostýnem railway station, along Loudon´s cemetery via Lázně (part of the town). The journey from Lázně is 9 km long and takes about 12 minutes. The fare price is about CZK 12,-.
By car - from Lázně you get to Hostýn on the same road by car as by bus. Warning! There is no vehicular access to Hostýn! You can park your vehicle on a parking place under Hostýn from the direction of Bystřice p. H. (next to the cemetery) and walk uphill or use bus or taxi. A twenty-four hour parking charge is CZK 20,- for private cars.

Walk - the walk from Bystřice pod Hostýnem is very interesting, for this reason we describe it. From the Sola Gratia boarding house we turn left and walk uphill. We cross the road to Hostýn and passing by the former Stračinský hotel we get to the end of a residential area. At our left hand there will be an interesting building of a former "Ranč" restaurant. If we climb a bit higher, we will see a large quarry at our right hand. A local forest track will lead us above the quarry. Approximately after 250 metres we get on a road called "stará hostýnská (old Hostýn road" or "císařská (Caesarean road)". In 1897 Caesar Franz Joseph I. was brought to Holy Hostýn along this road. After a short walk we get to the picture of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary placed on an iron pedestal. It is a replacement of the statue of St. Anthony. The statue used to be an object of vandalism and therefore after its reconstruction it has been moved in front of "Kaplanka (chapel)" on the Holy Hostýn. From the picture of the Virgin Mary we can climb uphill directly or walk along the road which is longer and which leads us to a lower watering place under "Vodní kaple (the Water chaple)". A little further up you can already see the first refreshment stands. We climb further up the stairs. At our left hand we can see the well-known statue of Jesus Christ by the sculptor Čeněk Vosmik "Já jsem cesta... - I am the way...". You can see a replica of this statue in the St. Vitus Cathedral situated in Prague. We finish our way in front of the basilica. The entrance to the basilica is decorated with bronze door with relieves of saints by the sculptor Španiel. If we look on the right, we can see the Holy Hostýn Foundation area with accommodation and dining facilities. On the left side two roads to Calvary by arch. Jurkovič and Koehler are situated. They will lead us to a wind power-station and look-out tower. To get back to Sola Gratia, we can use the same way as we came here or go along the road. Those who will be tired can use a bus.

Dining on the Holy Hostyn
During the day you can board in the pilgrimage houses no. 2 and 3. It is possible to choose out of 10 main courses and 3 soups. The self-service dining halls are for non-smokers and in operation from 8 a.m. to 3 or 4 p.m. There are also stands with fast-food open during the day.

More information will be provided HERE.