Chapel of Saint Peregrine

Chapel of Saint Peregrine is a small forest chapel near Ořechov, a village southwest of Brno, in the Czech Republic. Tucked away in a deciduous forest on a gentle hill between the villages of Ořechov, Nebovidy, and Želešice, it looks modest from the outside, yet it carries a history stretching back to the early 18th century and a pilgrimage tradition that is still kept alive today.

Where exactly is the chapel located?

The chapel stands roughly 2 km northeast of the edge of Ořechov, in a wooded area on a hill shared by three villages: Ořechov, Nebovidy, and Želešice. It isn't right next to a main road, so reaching it means a short walk along a forest path — part of what gives the site its quiet, secluded character, appealing to visitors looking to step away from busier tourist routes.

How did a chapel end up here?

Local tradition holds that a cross was first erected on this spot in 1709. The chapel itself came later, built in 1863. Its more recent history, though, begins in 1895, when the building underwent a major renovation — the same year a knight named František of the Felbinger family from Želešice commissioned the restoration of the original painted image of Saint Peregrine housed inside.

Why is the chapel dedicated to Saint Peregrine specifically?

Saint Peregrine Laziosi is venerated as the patron saint of those suffering from foot ailments and cancer. A chapel bearing his name became a natural focal point in the region for the faithful seeking his intercession for exactly these concerns, and that association shaped a lasting pilgrimage custom tied to the site.

What pilgrimage tradition is connected to the chapel?

For a long time, this spot served as the first stop on the pilgrimage route running from Brno to Mariazell in Austria, one of Central Europe's most significant pilgrimage destinations. The local parish still organizes an annual pilgrimage to the forest chapel every third Sunday in May. It is the only pilgrimage in honor of Saint Peregrine held continuously in the Czech Republic, which gives this unassuming forest chapel an outsized place in local religious tradition.

Did the chapel play any role beyond religious life?

Surprisingly, yes. In 1759, the chapel served as one of the auxiliary trigonometric points used during the measurement of the so-called Vienna Meridian, a project aimed at determining the shape and size of the Earth. That episode links a small forest chapel to a chapter of 18th-century geodetic science, well beyond its religious purpose.

What can visitors expect to see on site?

Visitors will find a quiet forest setting and the chapel itself, home to the image of Saint Peregrine. This is a contemplative spot rather than a conventional tourist attraction — there's no elaborate infrastructure, and the appeal lies mainly in the atmosphere and the layered history of a place that has served, uninterrupted, as a spiritual waypoint for pilgrims for centuries.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Chapel of Saint Peregrine? In a forest on a hill roughly 2 km northeast of Ořechov, between the villages of Ořechov, Nebovidy, and Želešice, near Brno.

When was the chapel built? Tradition places a cross on the site as early as 1709, while the chapel itself was built in 1863 and underwent a major renovation in 1895.

Are pilgrimages still held at the chapel? Yes — every third Sunday in May, the local parish holds a pilgrimage in honor of Saint Peregrine. It is the only such pilgrimage held continuously in the Czech Republic.

Does the chapel have any historical significance beyond religion? In 1759 it was used as an auxiliary trigonometric point during the measurement of the Vienna Meridian, a survey aimed at determining the Earth's shape and size.