Hauswaldská kaple

Hauswaldská kaple is a former pilgrimage site tucked into the forests of Šumava, reached from the parking area at Mechov. Once known as the "little Šumava Lourdes," it drew crowds of pilgrims hoping for healing at a forest spring — long before it became the quiet, foundations-only site it is today.

Where is it, and how do you get there from Mechov?

The site sits on the slope of Kostelní vrch, deep in the woods of Šumava National Park, close to the village of Srní. The nearest place to leave a car is the parking area at Mechov, from which a roughly two-kilometer forest trail leads to the former chapel grounds. Mechov itself holds a miniature model of the chapel in its original form, made by Martin Leiš — worth a look before heading into the forest, since nothing comparable survives at the actual site.

Why was there a chapel here at all?

The story starts in 1820, when a smaller chapel was first built at the spot. About forty years later, in the mid-19th century, a larger chapel replaced it on the same site. Both stood beside a spring credited with healing properties, and it was that spring — more than the buildings themselves — that turned Hauswald into a magnet for pilgrims from the surrounding Bohemian and Bavarian region. The comparison to France's Lourdes wasn't incidental: visitors came here specifically hoping the water would cure them.

What legends are tied to the place?

Hauswald carries stories of miraculous rescue. One of the best-known tells of two women saved from a bear attack after they prayed to the Virgin Mary at the moment of danger. Tales like this kept the site's reputation as a Marian shrine alive across generations, even given its remote, forest-bound location.

What happened to the chapels?

The site's religious life ended abruptly in 1957, when the Czechoslovak People's Army established a military zone in the area. The chapels did not survive that decision and were demolished, and the site slipped into decades of obscurity, cut off from pilgrims and hikers alike by restricted military access.

What can you actually see there today?

It took until 2006 for the site to be brought back to public attention. The foundations of both former chapels were uncovered and marked, and the spring along with its well was restored. The buildings themselves were never rebuilt — what remains today is the outlined footprint of the former chapels in the forest floor and a working spring that still draws visitors. The result is a place defined more by atmosphere and history than by standing architecture.

Who should plan a visit?

Hauswaldská kaple suits travelers after a quiet, short forest walk paired with a slice of regional history, rather than anyone expecting an intact historic chapel. It works well as a stop combined with a longer hike around Srní and Kostelní vrch.

Frequently asked questions

Is the chapel building itself still standing at Hauswaldská kaple? No. The original chapels were demolished after 1957 when a military zone was established there. Today only the marked foundations and a restored spring remain.

How long is the walk from Mechov to the site? The trail covers about two kilometers through forest, so the one-way walk typically takes 30–40 minutes depending on pace.

Why was the site called the "Šumava Lourdes"? Because of the spring's reputation for healing and the mass pilgrimages of people seeking a cure, echoing the pilgrimage tradition of Lourdes in France.

Is the chapel miniature in Mechov worth seeing? Yes — it's the only place to see what the chapel looked like before it was torn down, since only foundations remain at the actual site.