Panna Maria

The Chapel of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary stands at the heart of Radonín, a small village that forms part of Žďár nad Sázavou in the Czech Republic's Vysočina region. It's a modest, rural chapel, but for the people of Radonín it remains the spiritual centre of the settlement and the point around which local religious life still turns.

Where exactly is the chapel?

Radonín lies roughly 2 km south of the centre of Žďár nad Sázavou, along the second-class road II/353. The village follows a distinctive, compact layout: two rows of farmsteads run alongside a long, narrow village green, and the chapel sits right in the middle of that green. This kind of plan, typical of older settlements across the Vysočina region, makes the chapel a natural landmark for anyone passing through.

What's the history behind the site?

The chapel building itself is modest, but the ground it stands on has a documented history going back to the mid-14th century. The first written record dates to 1353, when the area was referred to as a forest belonging to the Cistercian monastery in Žďár. A farmstead and a fishpond were established here in 1521, and in the 18th century the monastery built a manor farm known as Hamrmýlský dvůr — which also gave the settlement its original name, Hamrmýl. After 1771 the property was gradually transferred into private hands, and in 1788 the manor farm was split into twelve independent holdings. The settlement took on its current name, Radonín, only later.

How many people live in Radonín today?

The village's population has shifted considerably over the decades. Its peak came in 1880, with 125 residents. By 1930 the number had fallen to 98 people across 16 houses, and by 2001 it stood at 71. According to 2021 figures, Radonín is home to 63 residents living in 23 houses. In recent decades, newer single-family homes have been added along the road connecting the village to route II/353, alongside the older farmsteads around the green.

Are there any celebrations tied to the chapel?

Yes — the chapel is at the centre of a yearly parish pilgrimage (pouť). It falls on the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, celebrated in early September, and it's the one day each year when Radonín draws its largest gathering of worshippers and visitors from the surrounding area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the chapel in Radonín dedicated to? It is dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.

Where is Radonín located? It's a village about 2 km south of Žďár nad Sázavou, in the Vysočina region of the Czech Republic, and it forms an administrative part of that town.

What was the village originally called? It was originally known as Hamrmýl, after the monastic manor farm Hamrmýlský dvůr built there in the 18th century. It later took on the name Radonín.

When is the pilgrimage held at the chapel? On the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, in early September.

What does the village layout around the chapel look like? Radonín consists of two rows of farmsteads framing a long village green, with the chapel standing in the middle of that open space.