CZ: Makova Mountain – Place of Pilgrimage in Beautiful Nature

To Makova

Makova rises above the village of Smolotely. It is the easiest way you can get to this place of pilgrimage. You may tread on the red tourist trail which starts at the village square, or the nature trail which runs across Smolotely area. The nature trail features seven stops. Apart from the place of pilgrimage it also focuses on local nature, and history of mining. Several testing drifts were digged there. The intention was to mine gabbro. Also, there was a small gold panning site as well as deposists of rare red granit. Very rare in the world. The red tourist trail goes on a narrow asphalted road. By a cemetery with a small chapel, you make a turn right and go into the forest. The asphalted road goes up to the top of a hill. It is easy to get there by bike or by car.

Devil's Bed

Should you climb the hill by the nature trail, first you will walk through preserved acate alley of hundred years of age. Then a nature trail plaque appear. It focuses on geological pecularities of the region. Should you make a turn off the nature trail and into the forest to your left, you'll get to a group of granite boulders. The largest of them goes by the name Devil's Bed. The turn is not marked. However, you may easily recognize the boulder thanks to a cross carved in it by locals to expel the devil.

Place of Pilgrimage - Makova

The compound of church and the parish is situated on the top of the hill. The church is

 devoted to the Virgin Mary of Karmel and St John the Baptist.  In its front, there are two towers. Inside, you may see precious Baroque furniture and equipment. The altar features a copy of the Virgin Mary of Skapulir brought hre by the Carmelites. Architect Carlo Antonio Canevallo is the author of the entire structure. Jan Felix Chanovsky of Dlouha Ves ordered the construction of the church. At first it was planned to construct ambites around the church. After Jan Felix Chanovsky's death however, there were no finances to finish the construction. In the 1920's, Josef Bosacek, a close friend of Mikolas Ales. Brothr os Mr Bosacek used to by a priest here. Bosacek authored the painting above the presbytery. The depiction of donkey comes from the same era. He brought water for the priest up on the hill. They say the donkey was so skilled that he knew the way by heart. They only had to pour water into a bucket down under the hill. The Carmelites resided in the parish. At the church you may enjoy beautiful vistas over the village and the surrounding landscape.

Sermons take place on Makova every third Sunday in a moth, on Christmas, New Year's Eve and the Pilgrimage to Makova.

Smolotely

In Smolotely, a early Baroque chateau is situated on the main square. Surrounded by a park with rare trees it is closed to the public. The chateau was constructed under the rule of the Chanovsti of Dlouha Ves. They made a baroque-style renovation on the former stronghold. The Germans inhabited the chateau during the WWII. Since then it has been in decay. The village's name originates in its pitch market which used to be there in the past.

Proximity to Orlicka Dam

From Makova, you may go along the red tourist trail to Solenice, right under the Orlicka Dam. The trail is about 5 kilometers long. Solenice used to be a place of reloading of salt. This gave the village its name. Nowadays, it is one fo the most popular resorts on the Orlicka Dam.

GPS: 49°37'00.3"N 14°08'54.1"E

Text and photos: Eliška Gregorová