Discover Skočice: Pilgrimage, Architecture and Hrad

Skočice brings together pilgrimage history, religious architecture and landscape at Hrad. If you are looking for a hotel for a culture- and nature-focused stay, these features offer a clear guide: they include the pilgrimage church of Navštívení Panny Marie, a chapel with the Skočický spring, the history of Skočická tvrz and a grain museum.

Pilgrimage Church and Marian Chapels

The pilgrimage church of Navštívení Panny Marie dates from the second half of the 17th century. Its central structure is octagonal, meaning eight-sided, and surrounded by an ambulatory. This architectural form and the surrounding passage give the building a distinctive shape. The chapel was consecrated on 21 August 1678; pilgrimages there have been mentioned since the year of its consecration.

Another chapel, sv. Jana Nepomuckého, stands in the cemetery wall next to the church. It was built in 1749–1750 and repaired in 2013. The chapel of Panny Marie Pomocné with the Skočický spring is considered one of the municipality’s oldest monuments. Today, the spring is housed in a restored square chapel with an image of the Virgin Mary, a pump and an iron grille. If you would like to visit the Skočický spring, check local access arrangements in advance.

Architectural History and Grain Culture

Skočická tvrz was converted into a Renaissance residence in the second half of the 16th century. The surviving building has two wings and is in the late Renaissance style; it forms the southeastern corner of the farmyard. Its brief architectural history can be traced through two specific features: its earlier conversion into a residence and the present form of the surviving building.

The Muzeum obilnářství Skočice is housed in a former farm building at the entrance to the village. Its exhibition follows grain cultivation from soil preparation and sowing through harvesting to processing. The focus here is therefore on the agricultural process, not the religious architecture of the chapels. Visitors can also try out some traditional agricultural implements for themselves.

Hrad, Forest and Views

Hrad is a double peak reaching 666.8 metres in the Netolická vrchovina. A 29-hectare nature reserve lies in the summit area. A remnant of the original flower-rich beech forest has been preserved there. Check the exact boundaries of the protected area locally. From Šumavská vyhlídka, the view extends to Boubín, Bobík and Libín; vegetation can affect visibility.

The landscape at Hrad complements the architectural history with a different focus: here, the emphasis is on peaks, protected forest and views rather than church designs and building functions. Since 2005, residents of Skočice have organised an excursion to Hrad on St Stephen’s Day. This offers a specific seasonal connection for travellers interested in local tradition, without reducing Hrad to its views alone.

Dates for Planning Your Trip

The Skočická pouť takes place regularly in early July; events were announced for 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the date of your chosen event in advance. The excursion to Hrad on St Stephen’s Day is another occasion, held at a different time of year. Early July and St Stephen’s Day are therefore two distinct points in the annual calendar.

Discover more destinations: Strunkovice Nad Volyňkou, Uzenice, Hájek U Bavorova, Dřešín, Vodnany, Drahonice, Kocelovice, Hornosín.

For the broader travel overview: Okres Strakonice.