Křemešník

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The Křemešník ( German Kremeschnik ) is a 767 m high mountain in the Czech Republic.

Geography

The Křemešník is located nine kilometers southeast of Pelhřimov near the village of Sázava, town Nový Rychnov, in the Bohemian- Moravian Highlands is a place of pilgrimage. At its north-eastern foot of the Jankovský springs creek.

Buildings and Structures

From north-west of the Cross of the spa Stříbrná studánka leads with a baroque chapel located next to it from the 1689 to the Sanctuary of the Holy Trinity on the western summit.

The Křemešník is an old silver mining area. The Civil Matous Chejstovský from Pelhřimov who had crashed into a silver mine, had built in 1555 according to his promise as gratitude that he was able to escape from the mine with a whole skin a wooden chapel. 1651 built the city Pelhřimov in its place a stone chapel, which was consecrated in 1654 by the abbot of the monastery Želiv, Norbert von Amelung. In the years 1710 to 1720 by the building of the Sanctuary, which was expanded in 1734 around a cloister. After a further extension was consecrated in 1750 by the Auxiliary Bishop of Prague Antonín January Vokoun. At the crossroads is the miraculous spring, which begins annually to bubble to the Apostle Matthias - day and then dried up after a few months to a trickle. Until 1803 the inhabited Klausner Franziskanertertiaren and the hermit Congregation of Ivaniten alternately the mountain. From 1935, the Salesians of Don Bosco had on the mountain.

On the east summit is the 52 meter high observation tower Pípalka. The steel structure was inaugurated in 1993 and has 40 meters in height, a viewing platform, leading to the 205 steps up.

The Větrný zámek ( Wind Palace ) or U sedmi havranů ( The Seven Ravens ) was built in 1930 by architect Kamil Hilbert as a villa for the sculptor Josef Šejnost and resembles a Gothic castle. On Křemešník there are also remains of old silver studs.

Great Pilgrimage

As of 1763 the great pilgrimage united on the Křemešník Czechs and German from the neighboring island Iglauer language as well as from Bavaria. In 1834 traveled 734 pilgrimages with 60,000 faithful. The Křemešník became the Hauptwallfahrtort the Diocese of Budweis. 1840 pilgrimage Prague Archbishop Alois Joseph Schrenck of Notzing walk to Kamenice nad Lipou on the Křemešník. 1860 was the confirmation by the Bishop Jan Valerián Jirsík, later by Cardinal Friedrich Johannes Jacob Celestin von Schwarzenberg. His successor Francis of Paula Schönborn pilgrimage of Vyskytná from walking on the mountain.

After the Second World War, the Prague Archbishop Josef Beran revived the great pilgrimage to the Křemešník again. In 1948, Budweiser Bishop Josef Hlouch the last time on the pilgrimage. After the takeover by the Communists the great pilgrimage to the bone of contention was. 1949 first Archbishop Hloucha was interned and the abbot of the monastery Želiv, Bohumil Vít Tajovský, which should adhere to Hlouchas place the Pontifical Mass on the Křemešník also arrested. After that there were nearly 40 years with no pilgrimages to the Křemešník more.

After the fall of the communist regime in 1989, the pilgrimages were resumed and the first Mass was celebrated Cardinal Miloslav Vlk.