Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes

The Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes stands in Hrdějovice, in a local part of the village called Těšín, just a few kilometres from České Budějovice in South Bohemia. This small neo-Gothic sanctuary was built in 1888–1889 and is also known locally as the Chapel of Our Lady of Těšín. It combines the role of a pilgrimage chapel with a nearby spring that has been credited with healing properties for centuries.

Where does the name Těšín come from?

The story of the site goes back to the 16th century, when a wooden chapel was first built next to the spring. People suffering from various ailments came here hoping for relief from the spring water. Pilgrims named the place Těšín, from the Czech word for comfort and consolation they found here. A later baroque chapel on the site was torn down during the Josephine reforms in the late 18th century, when Habsburg authorities closed many smaller religious sites across the empire. The chapel was nevertheless rebuilt in a more modest form around 1810.

How was today's chapel built?

The construction of a larger, more permanent pilgrimage chapel was driven mainly by the Congregation of the Sisters of the Most Holy Sacrament and the Congregation of the Brothers of the Most Holy Sacrament. Work took place between 1888 and 1889, and the finished building took on the neo-Gothic style that was popular for religious architecture at the time. The chapel was consecrated on 15 September 1889, an event attended by roughly 5,000 people — a scale that shows how important the site was to local parishes even in the 19th century.

What can you see there today?

Next to the chapel itself, the historic spring survives, still credited with healing properties by locals who continue to draw water from it. The building underwent restoration in 1988, carried out by the municipality of Hrdějovice, and the well at the spring was renovated again in 2014. Thanks to this upkeep, the site has kept its pilgrimage character and continues to draw both worshippers and visitors looking for a quiet, historic corner near České Budějovice.

How do you get there?

The chapel sits in Hrdějovice, in the Těšín part of the village, right next to České Budějovice, the capital of the South Bohemian region. It makes a good target for a short bike ride or a walk out of town, combining a natural feature — the spring and its surroundings — with a small, intimate religious monument. It's worth planning a visit as part of a longer route around České Budějovice, since the site itself can be seen fairly quickly.

Frequently asked questions

Is the chapel open to visitors? As a working religious and pilgrimage site, the chapel can be viewed from the outside year-round; access to the interior may depend on services and local parish arrangements.

How is this chapel different from Lourdes in France? Its dedication refers to the apparitions at Lourdes, but the Těšín chapel has its own, much older history of local devotion tied to the spring, dating back to the 16th century.

Does the spring water really have healing powers? Local tradition has credited the water with healing properties for centuries, but this is a folk and pilgrimage belief rather than a scientifically confirmed fact.

Is it worth combining a visit with sightseeing in České Budějovice? Yes — given the short distance, the Těšín chapel makes a natural, quick addition to a longer stay in the South Bohemian region.