Jaroměřice: Churches, Calvary and Stations of the Cross

Jaroměřice offers a clear focus for a culture-oriented trip: pilgrimage sites and sacred architecture. Alongside the pilgrimage complex are the Church of All Saints (“Všech svatých”) and a Stations of the Cross route connecting the church with the Calvary. The history of the buildings can be traced through their different structures, architectural forms and depictions. Both the spatial layout of the complex and its various historical connections offer insights.

Pilgrimage Site and Calvary

The pilgrimage site in Jaroměřice is enclosed by ambulatories. There are three chapels along each long side. The Santini pilgrimage church, “Povýšení svatého Kříže,” forms the eastern end of the complex and dates from 1712–1713. Together, these features create a clear spatial layout: the ambulatories enclose the complex, the chapels line both of its long sides, and the church marks its eastern end.

The Calvary of Jaroměřice is a Baroque pilgrimage complex and a faithful replica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. It is one of the three most important pilgrimage sites in the Pardubice Region and is also a prominent landmark in the landscape. Two aspects come together here: its religious significance as a pilgrimage site and its striking role in the landscape. If you want to place Jaroměřice’s cultural history in context, the Calvary offers a concrete starting point.

The Stations of the Cross from the Church to the Calvary

The Baroque Stations of the Cross route leads from the Church of All Saints (“Všech svatých”) to the Calvary and has eleven stations. The depictions alternate between chapels, sandstone columns and paintings. You will therefore encounter different forms of design along this route, rather than a sequence of uniform stations. The number of stations and the variety of depictions are two concrete features that describe this route.

The connection between the two destinations also gives the route its own distinct character: it begins at the Church of All Saints (“Všech svatých”) and leads to the Calvary. Those interested in sacred architecture can consider not only individual churches but also the religious route between them. The Baroque character of the route and the variety of its depictions bring together form and course without making these two aspects the same thing.

The Church of All Saints and its history

The Church of All Saints (“Všech svatých”) was built around the 12th century as a single-nave Gothic church with a tower, and is the oldest historic monument in Jaroměřice. The approximate dating points to a different period of construction than that of the Santini pilgrimage church, which dates from 1712–1713. Jaroměřice thus brings together different historical periods: an early construction date that can only be estimated, and a precisely dated building phase for the later pilgrimage church.

Inside the church is a tombstone dating from 1562. It depicts the knight Jan z Linhartic, who resided at Jaroměřice Fortress. The tombstone links a specific date with the depiction of a named historical figure. A probable Baroque remodeling is also important to understanding the church: it was probably remodeled in the Baroque style under Jan Bartodějský z Bartoděj, who held the Jaroměřice estate from 1609 to 1611.

The history of the Church of All Saints (“Všech svatých”) cannot therefore be reduced to a single building phase. Its history includes its approximate construction in the 12th century, the tombstone from 1562 and the probable Baroque remodeling under Jan Bartodějský z Bartoděj. By comparison, the Santini pilgrimage church has a clearly established construction period of 1712–1713. These differences make Jaroměřice interesting to travelers who want to explore churches and pilgrimage history through specific buildings and dates.

Discover more destinations

Svojanov, Čistá, Dětřichov U Svitav, Brněnec, Opatov, Hradec Nad Svitavou, Linhartice, Borušov

For the broader travel overview: Okres Svitavy.