Bílá Voda can be explored through two distinct lenses: the history of the religious sisters, and its named trails and natural sites. The cemetery and museum offer insights into the area’s history and its stories of remembrance; the Stations of the Cross, nature trail and Šafářová skála each offer a different perspective. This distinction can help you plan your trip: you can first consider whether you are mainly interested in cultural history, a trail with stations or a natural attraction.
The History of Religious Orders and Remembrance
The cemetery of the religious sisters has been a protected cultural monument since 2000. More than 700 sisters from many different orders and congregations are buried there. After the end of communist rule, the cemetery became an important pilgrimage and memorial site. Its protected status, the history of the religious orders and its later significance as a place of remembrance are all part of a connected historical story.
The Museum of Isolation, Internment and Integration dedicates one part of its exhibition to the history of Bílá Voda and another to the internment of religious sisters during communist rule. This began on 28 September 1950. The history of the area is thus presented alongside a specific turning point in the lives of religious communities.
The town’s history of Piarist education also shapes its character: the Piarist Gymnasium and College was the first Piarist college in Silesia. The Piarist Seminary, in turn, was a centre for music concerts and theatrical performances. Alongside the history of remembrance, visitors interested in cultural history will also find institutional and cultural aspects to explore.
Stations of the Cross, Nature Trail and Landscape
The Sudeten Stations of the Cross begin at the end of the Bílá Voda neighbourhood and end at the Hauer Chapel. The route passes fourteen stations along the way, with a clear sequence of stops and a named destination.
The Marianna Oranžská nature and history trail has a different focus. It presents the life and work of Marianna Oranžská in the area around Bílá Voda and Złoty Stok; most of the route lies within the cadastral area of Bílá Voda. Unlike the Stations of the Cross, it centres on a biographical theme and covers an area that includes both places.
Šafářová skála adds a natural attraction: it is a frost cliff and a rock formation with a viewpoint. Each option therefore has a distinct focus: the Stations of the Cross are defined by their fourteen stations and the Hauer Chapel, the nature trail by its subject and geographical scope, and Šafářová skála by its geological formation.
Music and Local Traditions
The Brosmannův festival duchovní hudby honours a significant figure with close ties to Bílá Voda. The honouree studied philosophy here in 1752–1753, worked as a music teacher and returned to Bílá Voda in 1778–1787 as rector of the Piarist College and parish priest. Festival editions took place from 2011 to 2019 and from 2021 to 2025. The festival’s historical connection to the town therefore extends beyond music to the history of the Piarist College.
Breadmaking is another local tradition: Bílá Voda has a bread oven used for demonstrations of how bread and other baked goods are made. It adds a practical insight into food production to the area’s cultural history and landscape.
If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Bílá Voda, the area’s different themes can help you decide where to stay: the cemetery and museum focus on the history of religious orders and remembrance, while the Stations of the Cross and nature trail offer different trail experiences. First consider what you would like your stay to focus on; you can then choose places and activities to match your interests.
More destinations
Discover more destinations: Černá Voda, Stará Červená Voda, Uhelná, Supíkovice, Zlate Hory, Česká Ves, Hradec-Nová Ves, Velká Kraš.
For the broader travel overview: Jeseník District.
