Chapel of Virgin Mary (Rok)

The Chapel of the Virgin Mary in Rok sits on the edge of the small settlement of Rok, a hamlet that belongs administratively to the town of Sušice in the Šumava region, roughly two kilometers from the town center. Built in the Baroque style and dedicated to the Marian cult of Mariazell, the chapel is owned by the town of Sušice and has remained a familiar landmark on the walking routes around town for more than two centuries.

How do you get to the chapel in Rok?

Rok lies right along the road leading out of Sušice, so the easiest way to reach the chapel is on foot or by bicycle — the walk from the town square takes less than half an hour. The building stands slightly above the village itself, on a low rise that opens onto views of the surrounding Šumava hills. The path forms part of the popular network of trails running from Sušice toward the nearby forests and viewpoints, so a visit can easily be combined with a longer hike.

What is the history behind the chapel?

A more modest chapel originally stood on the site of today's building. In the second half of the 18th century, local residents decided to replace it with a larger, more spacious structure. The project was overseen by the dean of Sušice, Father Prokop Harrer, who personally consecrated the new chapel on 12 June 1779 — the date regarded as the official beginning of the building in its present form.

The interior furnishings were added gradually over the following years. In 1781 a Sušice resident named Matěj Mammerle funded the chapel's first altar, and a year later two confessionals were installed. In 1786 a bell was hung in the small belfry and rang for the first time that same year, completing the chapel's basic furnishings.

What can you see inside?

The chapel has preserved the Baroque character typical of small rural sacred buildings in the Šumava region from this period: a simple structure, a modest bell tower, and an interior centered on the main altar dating from the late 18th century. That altar, together with the historic confessionals, forms the oldest surviving furnishing from the time the chapel was consecrated.

When is the best time to visit?

Because the chapel sits on a small rise with open views of the countryside, spring and summer are the best seasons to visit, when the trails around Sušice are dry and easy to walk. In autumn the surrounding Šumava forests add extra color to the view from this spot, while in winter reaching the chapel can be harder due to snow on the unpaved sections of the path.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the chapel located? In the hamlet of Rok, part of the town of Sušice in the Pilsen Region, about two kilometers from the town center.

When was the current chapel built? The building in its present form dates from the second half of the 18th century and was consecrated by dean Prokop Harrer on 12 June 1779.

Who is the chapel dedicated to? The chapel is dedicated to the Virgin Mary of Mariazell, a Marian devotion linked to the Austrian pilgrimage shrine of Mariazell.

Is the chapel open to visitors? It stands right on a walking trail and can be freely viewed from the outside; as town-owned property, it is occasionally opened for local celebrations.