Church of the Visitation of Our Lady

Church of the Visitation of Our Lady in Hluboké Mašůvky is a Baroque Marian shrine in the Znojmo district of southern Moravia, built above a spring long believed to have healing properties. It ranks among the region's most important pilgrimage sites and draws visitors touring the countryside around Znojmo.

Where does the church come from?

The story of this place goes back to the early 17th century, when a wooden chapel already stood here by 1618, next to a spring whose water locals credited with curative powers. In 1680, a French-born nobleman in Habsburg service, Jean Louis Raduit de Souches, funded a stone chapel with a five-sided sanctuary and a short rectangular nave to replace the earlier wooden structure. The founder was no ordinary figure — this was the same general who, twenty-five years earlier, had led the defense of Brno against a Swedish siege, and who later chose to put part of his fortune toward a shrine at this reputedly miraculous spring.

Who looked after the shrine over the centuries?

In 1701, care of the church passed to the Premonstratensian canons of the monastery at Louka near Znojmo, who ran the pilgrimage ministry here for decades afterward. Under their stewardship, the site strengthened its role as a destination for Marian pilgrims across southern Moravia, drawing the faithful from surrounding villages and towns seeking healing at the spring regarded as miraculous.

How did the building change over time?

The original late-17th-century Baroque structure was fairly modest — a five-sided chancel and a short nave served the community until well into the 20th century. The real transformation came in 1948–1950, when architect Theobald Krátký's design substantially enlarged the nave and added the distinctive rectangular tower. That expansion gave the church its present, far more imposing shape, able to accommodate the growing numbers of pilgrims and visitors coming to the site.

What is there to see on site?

The spring itself remains the heart of the shrine — it's the reason a modest woodland chapel from the early 1600s eventually grew into a full pilgrimage church. Look for the contrast between the older Baroque chancel and the newer 20th-century nave and tower; the differences in massing and architectural detail are easy to spot from outside. The church, together with its surroundings — including the rectory and roadside statues — is listed as a protected cultural monument of the Czech Republic, underscoring the historical value of the whole complex.

How do you get there, and when's the best time to visit?

Hluboké Mašůvky sits in a quiet, rural corner of the Znojmo district, just a short drive from the town of Znojmo itself — well under half an hour by car — making it an easy addition to a day trip through the South Moravian wine country. The site keeps its pilgrimage character year-round, but spring and early summer are the most rewarding times to visit, when the surrounding meadows and vineyards are at their best and the weather suits a walk through the village.

Frequently asked questions

Can you drink the water from the spring by the church? The spring has drawn pilgrims for centuries because of its reputed healing properties, but it's best to follow any on-site signage and local guidance before using it.

How long does a visit to the church take? Seeing the church itself takes about 20–30 minutes, though it's worth setting aside extra time for a relaxed walk through the village and the surrounding farmland typical of the Znojmo region.

Is the church still an active place of worship? Yes — it remains a functioning shrine and a destination for Marian pilgrimages, not just a heritage sight.

What else is worth seeing nearby? Znojmo, with its castle and old town, is close by, and the whole area belongs to the Znojmo wine region, so pairing the visit with some local wine tasting makes sense.