With 25 stations, the Římov Passion Path brings a religious theme into the landscape of Rimov. The pilgrimage complex, with the Church of the Holy Spirit and the Loreto Chapel, provides an architectural focal point and also shapes the cultural landscape. When planning your trip, you can consider architectural history, art, and the route as different areas of focus.

Pilgrimage Complex: Architectural History and Iconography

The pilgrimage complex, with the Church of the Holy Spirit and the Loreto Chapel, is a national cultural monument. The Loreto Chapel, founded in 1648, stands in the middle of the inner courtyard. The complex’s Baroque church was built between 1672 and 1697 on a central circular ground plan. The dates refer to different parts of the complex: the chapel’s foundation predates the construction of the church.

The iconography is also specific: the ambulatories of the pilgrimage complex contain 34 paintings depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. The chapels are arranged across the grounds to correspond to the traditional Stations of the Cross in Jerusalem. Thus, the paintings in the ambulatories and the chapels’ spatial connection to Jerusalem represent different facets of the pilgrimage.

Guided tours of the pilgrimage complex, its ambulatories, and the pilgrimage museum are offered in 2026; dates may change. Check the current schedule if you are planning to take a tour. The “Roubenka” museum is housed in an original wooden house dating from 1610. This makes its building history older than the foundation of the Loreto Chapel and the later construction of the church.

The Passion Path and the Landscape along the Malše

The Stations of the Cross route passes through the village, across fields and through the forest, as well as along the Malše. In places, the valley of the river flowing through Rimov has a gorge-like character, with rock formations. Both the paths through different types of landscape and the sacred buildings are therefore part of the pilgrimage landscape.

One distinction is important for finding your way between the routes: the Velešín–Roudné cycle route follows part of the Římov Passion Path, not its entire course. The cultural landscape of the Římovsko Landscape Conservation Area is shaped in particular by the extensive pilgrimage complex, considered one of the finest examples of a Baroque landscape inspired by Catholic mysticism.

Another landmark along the Malše is the Římov drinking-water reservoir, built between 1971 and 1978. While the valley is characterized in places by rock formations and its gorge-like character, the reservoir’s primary purpose is drinking-water supply. The Malše is thus seen in two distinct landscape and infrastructure contexts.

The Římov Spring Pilgrimage is held annually. In 2026, it was scheduled for May 2 and 3; craft markets under the lime trees by the church were planned during the event. If you would like to attend a future edition, check its current dates.

When looking for accommodation in Rimov, you can decide what to prioritize during your stay: would you like to focus on the pilgrimage complex and its architectural and artistic history, or also explore the Passion Path and the landscape along the Malše?

Discover more destinations: Kvítkovice, Payreschau, Komarice, Vidov, Dehtar, Žimutice, Slavče, Lhota

For the broader travel overview: Okres České Budějovice.