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Basilica of the Visitation, Olomouc Czechia

September 14, 2026 7:50 pm

Sep 9 – Today we traveled an hour by bus out of the city and up to the top of a hill. We are visiting the Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, a pilgrimage site and Czech beginning of the Way of St James that goes to Santiago. We’re not hiking this time, just paying a visit.

Here’s the story. In the early 1600s, Jan Andrýsek, a wine merchant, vowed that if he ever became wealthy, he would build a chapel to the Virgin Mary near Olomouc.

When he inherited a fortune, and didn’t follow through on his promise, the Virgin Mary appeared to him twice in dreams, reminding him of the vow. The dreams showed a radiant forest and the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child.

In 1629, Jan was riding east of Olomouc in a blizzard. He suddenly saw a brilliant light, in exactly the place he had seen in his dreams. Thus reminded, he built a chapel, which was enlarged several times as more pilgrims visited each year.

The bus let us off a short walk from the basilica
Nothing but farmland for miles around
In we go!
The Virgin wanted a chapel right here
The light during the blizzard
The altarpiece contains some bones of St Pauline, the patron saint of Olomouc. The small stone relief of Mary in the silver frame survived a fire in the original chapel in the 1600s and is considered miraculous.
Fancy organ pipes
So baroque
Is that a camel?
Is that a dragon?
An angel holding dice – referring perhaps to the soldiers who cast lots for Jesus’ cloak?
More Madonnas for my collection
…including two Black Madonnas
This one reminds me of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Whoa! Isn’t this the best reaction of St Thomas that you’ve ever seen?
The basilica is also part of the Camino Santiago, and we looked at several pics of locals walking the Way of St James. I don’t think this bunch is going all the way to Spain.
On our walk home we spied some wall art
Very colorful
And even some sidewalk chalk art!

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Posted by karenfranza

Categories: Czechia, Travel

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2 Responses to “Basilica of the Visitation, Olomouc Czechia”

  1. I would guess, Karen, the angel holding dice is a reference to the soldiers after the crucifixion who played a dice game to see who would get to keep Jesus’ garments. JS Bach uses this episode in his St. John’s Passion. [which I have sung as a chorister] Here’s the text: “Chorus– Lasset uns den nicht zerteilen, Sondern darum losen, Wes er sein soll.”

    Like

    By mystical54b847b4e0 on September 15, 2026 at 5:42 am

    1. I bet that’s it – thank you!

      Like

      By karenfranza on September 15, 2026 at 7:46 am

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