Hvězda chapel

The Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows on Hvězda hill is a small chapel standing on the summit of Hvězda hill in the Czech part of the Table Mountains (Stolowe Mountains), within the Broumov Walls (Broumovské stěny) rock range. The chapel forms part of the so-called Broumov group of churches, a set of sacred buildings scattered across the Broumov region near the town of Police nad Metují, close to the Czech-Polish border.

Where exactly is the chapel located?

The chapel sits on top of Hvězda hill, at coordinates 50.5671°N, 16.2668°E, in the heart of the Broumov Walls — the sandstone ridge that forms the Czech portion of the larger Table Mountains massif. Administratively the site lies in the Náchod district, and the nearest larger town is Police nad Metují, itself set at the foot of the same sandstone formations that stretch on toward the Polish border.

What makes the Broumov Walls distinctive?

The Broumov Walls are a sandstone rock range known for steep cliff faces, narrow gorges and scenic viewpoints. Together with the neighboring Table Mountains on the Polish side, the range forms one of the most recognizable rock landscapes in Central Europe, drawing hikers and cyclists throughout the year. Hills such as Hvězda act as natural landmarks within this terrain, visible from many of the trails that criss-cross the Broumov region.

What does the dedication to Our Lady of the Snows mean?

The dedication to Our Lady of the Snows refers to a tradition tied to the founding of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, according to a legend in which snow fell on the chosen site in August. It is one of the oldest and most widespread Marian dedications in Central Europe, marked liturgically on 5 August. Chapels and churches bearing this title were often placed on elevated ground — hills and summits — which matches the setting of this chapel on top of Hvězda.

What is the Broumov group of churches?

The Broumov group of churches is the name given to a set of sacred buildings raised across the Broumov region, ranging from large parish churches to smaller chapels scattered over the surrounding hills and villages. The chapel's membership in this group ties it to a wider network of religious architecture that has shaped the cultural landscape of this stretch of the Czech-Polish borderland for centuries.

Why is it worth a stop on a hike through the area?

The chapel on Hvězda serves as a landmark for hikers making their way through the Broumov Walls — its position on the summit means it can be spotted from stretches of trail running through the rocky maze of the range. For visitors exploring both the Polish Table Mountains and their Czech counterpart, it is one of the smaller but characteristic features of the region's religious landscape.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows on Hvězda located? On the summit of Hvězda hill in the Broumov Walls, in the Czech part of the Table Mountains, near Police nad Metují in the Náchod district.

Which group of monuments does the chapel belong to? The Broumov group of churches, a set of sacred buildings across the Broumov region.

What does the "Our Lady of the Snows" title refer to? A legend of snowfall in Rome tied to the founding of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, commemorated on 5 August.

What kind of landscape surrounds the chapel? The sandstone rock landscape of the Broumov Walls — cliffs, gorges and hiking trails linking the region to the Polish Table Mountains.