Pilgrims, Welcome! Set Off on a Journey Across Czechia

Traditional Pilgrimage Routes in Czechia

Among the most important routes are the Cyril and Methodius Trail⬈ and the St James’s Trail, which pass through South Moravia and South Bohemia. You can also set out on traditional pilgrimages such as the Via Sacra, Saint Gunther’s Trail⬈, the Via Nova or the Cistercian European Routes⬈.
 
Another interesting pilgrimage can take you from the magical city of Prague – vividly portrayed in the American writer Dan Brown’s book The Secret of Secrets – to Stará Boleslav with its beautiful historic centre.

   

One of the most significant routes is the Cyril and Methodius Trail (recertified in October 2025 as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe), a long-distance cultural and pilgrimage route connecting important places associated with the arrival of Christianity in Great Moravia. In Czechia, it stretches for almost 929 km and connects several routes leading from various parts of the country to the final destination at Velehrad, one of the main pilgrimage sites not only in Czechia. The trail, passing through forests, hills, rivers and along pilgrimage chapels, statues and other historical landmarks, is suitable for hikers and pilgrims alike, and is well marked and maintained.

Main Routes of the Cyril and Methodius Trail:

• Beskydy Route: It starts in Wisła in Poland and leads through the hilly area of Pustevny and Rožnov pod Radhoštěm up to Mount Radhošť with its chapel and the statue of the pagan god Radegast.

• Pálava Route: It connects Velehrad with Mikulov, passing through vineyards, nature reserves and historical landmarks, including the romantic Lednice–Valtice Complex, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

• Archbishop’s Route: It leads from Svatý Kopeček near Olomouc through the historically valuable town of Kroměříž with its Flower Garden, all the way to Velehrad.

• White Carpathians Route: It links the oldest pilgrimage sites along the Moravian–Slovak border and takes you back to the era of medieval monasteries. You will pass through the enchanting landscape of the White Carpathians, visit the spa town of Luhačovice, the royal town of Uherské Hradiště, and the archaeologically significant Staré Město and Modrá.

• Great Moravian Route: It connects Hodonín with Velehrad, passing through historical sites of the Great Moravian Empire and important archaeological locations.

• Bohemian–Moravian Trail: It leads from Levý Hradec near Prague through the Sázava Monastery – known for its connection with the Czech video game Kingdom Come – all the way to Velehrad, combining natural beauty with historic landmarks.

   

Following in the Footsteps of Saint Ludmila

Another fascinating route is the Saint Ludmila Trail. It passes through Mělník, where you can admire a beautiful château surrounded by vineyards and enjoy views of the confluence of two great rivers. It continues via the fortified settlement with the Rotunda of Saints Peter and Paul, then leads to Prague Castle and through districts of Prague 1, 2, 5 and 6, where numerous historic churches and chapels can be found. The route ends at Karlštejn and Svatý Jan pod Skalou – an exceptionally charming pilgrimage site with a monastery and a Baroque church set into a rocky landscape.

From Prague to Constance

The Hussite Trail and Saint Gunther’s Trail combine history, spiritual heritage and natural beauty. The Hussite Trail leads from Prague to Constance and offers visits to historic towns along the way. Saint Gunther’s Trail connects picturesque forest and water routes across South Bohemia and Bavaria, allowing you to discover monasteries, churches, natural beauty and cultural landmarks from Niederaltaich in Germany all the way to Blatná.

Traditional Trails That Will Captivate You

Traditional routes such as Svatý Hostýn–Velehrad, Blaník–Říp or the St James’s Trail offer pilgrims and travellers a combination of natural beauty, history and spiritual experiences. The Svatý Hostýn–Velehrad route takes you to an impressive Baroque basilica and through the picturesque Moravian countryside, while the Blaník–Říp Trail passes through legendary hills linked to Czech myths – from the knights sleeping beneath Mount Blaník to Mount Říp, where, according to tradition, the mythical Forefather Čech first arrived.

The first marked St James’s Trail in Moravia leads from Brno to Mikulov, connecting to the Austrian St James’s Trail in Lower Austria. Its main starting point is the Church of St James in Brno. In South Moravia, so-called “pilgrim points” have also been established – small pilgrim shelters with an engraved scallop shell, the symbol of the St James’s pilgrimage, equipped with a stamp for pilgrim passports and other practical tools.