Pilgrims way to Hájek. Its origins, development and decline in the mirror of sources from the 17th-19th century

The baroque pilgrimage way from Prague to Hájek originated between the year 1720-1733. Of the total of 20 chapels only 11 were preserved to these days. The primary route of the pilgrimage way was gradually abolished and now is on several places iterrupted. By several of demolished chapels today is not possible to determine their original location. In Hájek (the name comes from the newly planted forrest near the village Červený Újezd) in the year 1623 Jindřich Žďárský of Žďár built the chapel, inspired by the chapel in Loreto in Italy. Lately the Franziskaner monastery was founded there. In 1720 the foundation stone of the pilgrimage way was laied. The chapels have been built and lately preserved, using the financial means of the donators. The budget as well as the bills for the building works have been kept in the archive. The chapels have been decorated by frescos, showing the lives of Virgin Marie and Saint Francis. The appearance of the paintings has not been preserved, only their description. The chapels begun to deteriorate at the end of 18th century, at the time when the Emperor Josef II. abolished the fund for their renovation. The pilgrimage has been used by pilgrims in times of the main Maria's feasts above all. Most of pilgrims hasn't been using only the way from Prague, but also the ways from..