*Walks to the Pilgrimage site in the hills above historic Police nad Metují: 4 km to 8 km*

• On 10 August 1892, while walking in the forest above the monastery town of Police nad Metují, the 14 year old Kristina Ringlová had a vision of a tall, slender and blue-eyed lady striding down the path towards her. The vision returned to the young girl many times over the subsequent weeks. Word of the visions spread fast and the forest location became a place of pilgrimage for thousands of visitors. Despite a ban by the local authorities, visits to the site continued, amidst reports of miraculous healing events.
• In 1893, a Way of the Cross was established at the site, starting at the healing spring and finishing at a forest chapel, constructed in the Neo Gothic style in 1897. Doubtful of the site’s miraculous origin, the Roman Catholic Church refused to consecrate the chapel. It finally did so nearly a hundred years later, in 1990. Unfortunately, twenty years later the chapel was deliberately burnt to the ground. Determined to maintain the legendary pilgrimage site, the regional authorities faithfully rebuilt the chapel and had it reconsecrated on 8 July 2012. The consecration was conducted by the Archbishop of Prague, Cardinal Duka.
• Today, the beautiful Ticháčkova forest chapel is well worth a visit, even by those not undertaking a pilgrimage. In addition to the fourteen Stations of the Way of the Cross, other sites on the trail include a massive solitary sandstone column, which (given its location) is somewhat provocatively called Čertova skála – Devil’s Rock (it is pictured below).
• The Way of the Cross trail and forest chapel can be accessed from a number of directions. On the northern side, one option is to start from the Hlavňov bus stop or nearby parking area (map point 7). It is a 4 km round trip from there, including a stop at the famous Ryba na Hrázi pub, located beside a fishpond (map point 8). Unsurprisingly, the pub specializes in excellent fish dishes. It is a Hejlík recommended restaurant.
• For a longer walk, consider the excellent and varied circular 8 km route shown in the map below, which starts and finishes in the historic town of Police nad Metují. The town is notable for its early 13th century Benedictine monastery and lovely Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, with its rare early Gothic entrance. A branch of the Camino de Santiago passes through the town and a section of this trail is used to reach the Stations of the Cross. The town square is dominated by the unusual town hall, designed by the famous Baroque architect, Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer. It was later modified with a neo Gothic tower in the 19th century.
• The 8 km circular trip is on easy tracks and meadow footpaths, with less than 200m of height to ascend-descend. The views on the return leg (a section of the long distance trail the Jiráskova cesta) are particularly good. For refreshments, in addition to a possible stop at the Ryba na Hrázi fish restaurant, consider a stop at the attractive Angel’s Café, on the main square (map point 11).

Note: click ‘Show on map’ above to go to a full screen version directly on the mapy.cz site. This can be used for online navigation, saved or exported as a GPX file

Directions

• From the main square of Police nad Metují, join the GREEN trail to reach the Ochoz junction after 1.4 km
• At the Ochoz junction, turn left onto the YELLOW trail which leads to the start of the Way of the Cross trail after 700 m
• Turn right onto the trail through the brick archway and follow the trail for 500m to reach Station VIII next to the sandstone pillar
• Turn left onto the YELLOW trail and continue for 400m to complete the Way of the Cross trail and reach Ticháček’s Chapel
• Return back to sandstone pillar and continue on the YELLOW trail for a further 800m to reach the Klůček junction
• If planning on visiting the Ryba na Hrázi fish restaurant, continue on the YELLOW trail downhill for 650m to reach the pub
• Return back to the Klůček junction and there join the RED trail which leads back to the center of town after 2.5 km