Letarovice: Pilgrimage and Church Art

Letarovice is home to the pilgrimage church of St. James the Greater, the adjoining ossuary and recurring pilgrimage traditions. If you are planning a hotel stay, it is best to decide on the purpose of your visit first: would you like to explore church art, take part in a traditional pilgrimage, or experience the “Pouť mezi dvěma Jány” festival? This will make it easier to choose your travel dates. When considering the route information, it also matters where you are starting from.

Church of St. James the Greater and Ossuary

The coffered ceiling of the pilgrimage church contains 60 scenes from the life of its patron saint. A coffered ceiling is divided into individual panels; here, the scenes combine to form an extensive pictorial programme. If you are interested in sacred art, this gives you a specific feature of the church interior to focus on, rather than viewing the church only as a stop on a pilgrimage.

The late Baroque ossuary is next to the church. It is the only ossuary in the Liberec Region whose interior is inspired by the ossuary in Sedlec. The church and ossuary stand directly beside one another, but have distinct features: on one side is the coffered ceiling with scenes from the life of the patron saint; on the other is an interior inspired by Sedlec. This pairing gives a visit a clear cultural and historical focus without conflating the two places.

Pilgrimage and Festival

The local pilgrimage tradition resumed in 1990 after an interruption of several decades. The traditional St. James pilgrimage takes place on the last Sunday in July. This recurring date is a useful starting point for planning your trip if the pilgrimage itself is the reason for your stay.

The “Pouť mezi dvěma Jány” festival has also been held in Letarovice since 2011. Its programme includes a procession to four altars along forest paths around the village. During the pilgrimage, stalls on the village green sell gingerbread and baskets. The cultural experience is shaped by both the religious occasion and the procession’s specific stops and market activity. If you are interested in the festival, check the date of the edition you wish to attend.

Choose a Route to Suit Your Plans

The organised pilgrimage hike from Kryštofovo Údolí to Letarovice covers about 23.5 kilometres. Route conditions may vary. From Český Dub, you can reach Letarovice on a blue-marked trail in about 40 minutes on foot. These two details refer to different starting points and routes.

The approximately 40-minute journey refers to the walk from Český Dub, not the entire organised pilgrimage hike from Kryštofovo Údolí. When estimating how much time you will need, use the starting point that matches your plans. If you are planning the longer pilgrimage hike, allow for possible changes in route conditions; for the walk from Český Dub, the approximate walking time is the relevant guide. This keeps the two route details distinct, rather than making them seem like alternative versions of the same route.

Find Hotels in Letarovice by Travel Date

Your travel dates can depend on whether you want to experience the St. James pilgrimage, the festival, or primarily the church art. The last Sunday in July is a specific seasonal reference point for the pilgrimage. For the festival, the date of the edition you want to attend is what matters. Decide on the occasion before searching for a hotel so that your planned stay coincides with the days you want to be there.

When comparing specific hotel offers, check that their available dates match your travel period. This keeps your search aligned with your actual plans: the pilgrimage, the festival, or a stay focused on the church and ossuary. Letarovice’s cultural attractions provide a specific starting point for making your travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Nové Město Pod Smrkem, Paceřice, Hlavice, Krásný Les, Višňová U Frýdlantu, Kryštofovo Údolí, Cetenov, Janovice V Podještědí.

For the overview of the wider area: Liberec District.