Maria Kulm: Pilgrimage and Baroque Architecture

Pilgrimage Site and Bohemian Baroque

At the heart of Maria Kulm is the pilgrimage site in Chlum Svaté Maří, a national cultural monument. It is of outstanding importance to the history of Bohemian Baroque architecture and also holds particular significance in the Central European context. Its defining features include the ambulatories and the church’s unusual floor plan. The ambulatories are not only an architectural feature of the site, but also a stop on the pilgrimage tour. If you are looking for a hotel in Maria Kulm, the site offers a specific cultural focus to help guide your travel plans.

Legend and Building History

According to legend, the pilgrimage site dates back to the 13th century. A butcher’s apprentice from Sokolov is said to have found a Gothic seated statue of the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child in a hazel bush on Chlumský kopec. This tradition recounts the legendary origins of the pilgrimage. The first pilgrimage church was remodeled in the Baroque style between 1687 and 1728 according to plans by the architect Kryštof Dienzenhofer. A visit therefore brings together two distinct periods: the legendary beginnings of the pilgrimage and the Baroque remodeling of the first church.

Tours and Exhibitions

On the pilgrimage tour, visitors can see the church, the Chapel of Grace, the ambulatories and the tower. The tour also includes a choice between visiting a garden and taking a short walk to a chapel with a spring. The museum tour has a different focus: it includes a historical exhibition with a gallery, art objects and sacred items. An underground area features a multimedia installation documenting changes to the pilgrimage site.

The two tours thus offer different ways to experience the site. The pilgrimage tour focuses on specific areas of the complex, while the museum tour combines exhibitions and art objects with a multimedia presentation of the site’s changes. If you are mainly interested in architecture, the pilgrimage tour offers specific places to visit. The museum tour is a good choice if you would like to see the exhibition and sacred items and learn about the site’s history.

Plan Your Visit

As of June 1, 2026, the pilgrimage tour is open daily from 09:00 to 16:00, free of charge and without a guided tour. Check the opening times before you travel. Free parking is available in front of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary on náměstí J. W. Goetheho; check local parking conditions before setting off.

Direct bus routes 208 and 210 connect Sokolov with Chlum Svaté Maří. If you plan to travel by bus, check the route numbers and timetable before your journey. This will help you coordinate your visit to the pilgrimage site, your chosen tour and your travel arrangements without mistaking the time-limited visitor information for a guarantee about other parts of the offer.

Discover more destinations: Podstrani, Lanz, Neusattl, Zieditz, Chodau, Katzengrün, Josefsdorf, Schlaggenwald.

Return to the main travel overview: Falkenau an der Eger District.