The Budějovice Bishopric is renovating the pilgrimage site in Římov for 100 million

Římov – The Diocese of České Budějovice has begun renovating the pilgrimage complex with a baroque Stations of the Cross in Římov. The work, costing 100 million CZK, will continue until 2022, and copies of stolen statues will also be created. In the 17th century, up to 80,000 pilgrims visited the site each year, but in the second half of the last century, the passion path fell into disrepair. This was reported to ČTK by representatives of the diocese and preservationists.

The pilgrimage site, which has been a National Cultural Monument since 2018, was established in the 17th century. "Its architecture embodies the concept of the 'bible of the poor', a holy theater that brings to life stories from the history of salvation through images. By visiting these places, believers can spiritually transport themselves to Jerusalem," stated the spiritual caretaker of the complex, Jakub Zentner.

The diocese will renovate the area with the Church of the Holy Spirit, the Loreto chapel, and the passion path with 25 stations, where the baroque chapels are now empty. Following thefts in the 1990s and early 21st century, 37 statues have been preserved, about half. For example, just before Christmas 1994, thieves stole most of the life-sized statues of Jesus Christ and the 12 apostles from one chapel. Some statues have still not been recovered.

By August 2022, companies will repair 24 chapels, all except for Calvary. "Preparatory work has begun; three chapels are fenced off and undergoing work," said Petr Vojta, managing director of PAMÁTKY CB.

Workers will repair roofs, plasters, windows, doors, and floors, and will replace the roofing. Restorers will restore wall paintings, stone elements, statues, wooden fences, and metal grilles, said diocese spokesman Petr Samec. Most of the costs will be covered by an EU subsidy.

The restoration of the chapels will cost 19 million. The next phase will involve the repair of the church, cloisters, and surrounding areas, with costs estimated at about 40 million. A similar amount will be required for restoring the furnishings, including statues, panel paintings, and metalwork. Jiří Vácha, head of the preservation department at the diocese, previously told ČTK that without the statues, the path loses meaning for pilgrims and becomes merely a museum.

In the main area, roofs, façades, interior painting, altars, and confessionals will be repaired.

According to preservationists, this is one of the most significant pilgrimage complexes in South Bohemia, uniquely integrated into the landscape. "Its components include a very interesting sculptural equipment of the Stations of the Cross," said Daniel Šnejd, director of the territorial expert site of the National Heritage Institute in České Budějovice, to ČTK. He added that part of the church's and adjacent cloisters' furnishings has not yet been restored. He considers it important that copies of the statues will be placed in the currently empty chapels: at the beginning of the project, a cheaper version was considered, just photographs of the statues in a 1:1 scale.

In the second half of the 17th century, up to 80,000 pilgrims visited the site annually, from Bohemia and Austria. Up until the mid-20th century, artists frequently visited as well. "In recent decades, the number of pilgrims has decreased. However, the pilgrimage site of Římov has the potential to become a center of spiritual renewal," believes Zentner.

In the region, the pilgrimage church of the Holy Trinity near Trhové Sviny also deserves restoration according to Šnejd. There are cracks in the vaults, and it would be good to restore the baroque paintings inside.

In South Bohemia, a well-known pilgrimage site is also in Klokoty, near Tábor. It was established in the 18th century near the place where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to shepherds in the 13th century. The Stations of the Cross, with 14 stations, end at the chapel, the site of the apparition.