socha Panny Marie

The Statue of the Virgin Mary in Hluboké Mašůvky is a wooden figure of the Madonna and Child that has drawn pilgrims to this small South Moravian village for more than three centuries. Set on the main altar of the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, the statue is the focal point of one of the most actively visited Marian pilgrimage sites in the region, attracting visitors from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and beyond.

Where did the statue come from?

The story behind the statue begins near Liège in Belgium, at a place known as Foy (also spelled Foi, French for "faith" or "trust"). According to tradition, when a centuries-old oak tree was felled there, a small wooden figure of the Madonna and Child was found inside its trunk, protected by a triple iron grille. Copies were later carved from the wood of that same oak, and one of them found its way to a Belgian convent.

How did it reach Hluboké Mašůvky?

The figure's journey to Moravia is tied to Imperial Field Marshal Ludvík Raduit de Souches, a commander during the Thirty Years' War. As the story goes, when his troops were preparing to burn down the convent that held the statue, the mother superior persuaded him to spare the building, offering him the small Madonna figure in return. De Souches is said to have carried it beneath his uniform from then on, convinced it protected him in battle.

When did the statue arrive at the church?

De Souches donated the figure to the church in Hluboké Mašůvky in 1680. Over time, the original small statue was replaced on the main altar by a larger wooden sculpture of the Madonna of Foy, sized to fit the church's altar — it is this sculpture that remains the object of devotion today.

Why do pilgrims still come to Hluboké Mašůvky?

Located near Znojmo in South Moravia, the village has remained one of the region's key pilgrimage destinations since the statue's arrival in the Baroque era. Visitors travel here not only from across the Czech Republic but also from Slovakia, Austria and other countries, drawn by the tradition of seeking comfort and hope before the statue. This continuous pilgrimage tradition makes Hluboké Mašůvky one of the most visited Marian shrines in South Moravia today.

What can visitors see on site?

The centerpiece of a visit is the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, with the statue of the Madonna of Foy on its main altar. Together with the surrounding church grounds, it forms a pilgrimage complex that has shaped the character of this small village for centuries.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the statue in Hluboké Mašůvky originally come from? Its origin traces back to a site called Foy near Liège in Belgium, where a similar figure was reportedly found inside a felled oak tree.

Who brought the statue to the Czech lands? Field Marshal Ludvík Raduit de Souches, an Imperial commander during the Thirty Years' War, who received it from the mother superior of a Belgian convent.

When did the statue arrive at the church in Hluboké Mašůvky? In 1680, when de Souches donated it to the local parish.

Where exactly is the statue located? On the main altar of the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary in Hluboké Mašůvky, near Znojmo.

Is Hluboké Mašůvky still an active pilgrimage site? Yes, it continues to draw pilgrims from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and other countries.