Filipovice brings together two different questions for planning a trip: What does the history of the place tell us, and would you like to include a steep, marked walking trail to a pilgrimage site? The settlement’s history began with an estate and the settlement named after Count František Josef Filip von Hodic. Maria Talhof, west of Filipovice in the deep valley of the Melčský potok, offers a separate point of interest.

Filipovice and its Early History

Filipovice grew out of an estate belonging to the nearby domain of Vikštejn Castle. Count František Josef Filip von Hodic bought the estate in 1706 and subsequently founded a settlement named after him. The first documented mention appears in 1707 in the register of the Radkov parish. The distinction is important: the purchase and subsequent founding took place before the first written record; 1707 is the year of the mention, not the year the estate was bought.

Another trace of the name dates to the 19th century: in his 1836 topography of the Opava region, Faustin Ens also referred to Filipovice as “Philippdorf” and “Neudörfel.” These historical forms refer to Filipovice and place the naming in a later period than the estate purchase and the founding of the settlement. The present-day place name is linked to its founder, Filip von Hodic; Ens’s names show the other names used for Filipovice in his topography.

The Chapel and Its Building History

The timeline for the Chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary begins later. In 1867, the residents of Filipovice began collecting donations for its construction. The chapel was probably built between 1902 and 1907 and was consecrated in 1907. A more precise construction date is unknown. Around four decades passed between the start of fundraising and the consecration; the construction itself can only be placed within the stated period.

Maria Talhof: A Destination in the Valley

Maria Talhof lies west of Filipovice, in a deep valley of the Melčský potok. A steep footpath marked with blue trail blazes leads from Filipovice to the pilgrimage site. The path itself is therefore part of deciding whether to include the site in your stay: both the incline and the trail markings are relevant to your plans, as well as the destination. Marked routes may be diverted or temporarily affected; check the current route and conditions before setting out. Regular pilgrimages to Maria Talhof resumed in the second half of the 1990s. If you are planning a trip specifically for a pilgrimage, check the date before you travel.

Access and Route Planning

A description dated December 16, 2024, gives access via a local road near the Hradec–Domoradovice–Melč state road. As local conditions can change, check access before you travel. Road access and the footpath answer different planning questions: the local road concerns access to Filipovice, while the steep, blue-marked path leads from there to Maria Talhof. You can therefore plan your journey to the village and the walk into the valley as separate parts of the day.

Discover more destinations: Dolní Životice, Dolní Benešov, Oldřišov, Nové Lublice, Kravaře, Stěbořice, Chuchelná, Jilešovice

For the regional travel overview: Opava District.