Pilgrimage Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary

The church's history dates back to the second half of the 17th century and is linked to the nearby Skočice manor house. Built in early Baroque style between 1677 and 1678, its floor plan forms an eight-pointed star — the symbol found in the coat of arms of Countess Polyxena Ludmila.

On 21 August 1678, the chapel was solemnly consecrated under the title “Visitation of the Virgin Mary” by Jan Ignác Dlouhoveský of Dlouhá Ves, the provost of St. Vitus Cathedral at Prague Castle. On that day, the image was ceremoniously transferred from the manor to the chapel. The celebration was attended by six noble families, 16 priests, and over 2,500 people from the wider region.

Over time, the chapel gradually transformed into a church. In 1705, part of the wooden shingle roof was replaced with a tile roof. In 1717, solid doors and window bars were installed. In 1718, the church underwent structural changes based on designs by Pavel Ignác Bayer. In 1756, a sacristy was added to the ambulatory. According to historians, the 18th-century tower dome was topped with a red-stained wooden onion dome and a small white-metal turret. A renovation plan from 1825 is preserved in the State Regional Archive in Třeboň.

Currently, the central octagonal building features a cloister vault and is surrounded by an arcade with a rectangular sacristy on the northern side. Originally, the chapel had four entrances, but one was bricked up during the 19th century. The interior has undergone numerous modifications throughout history. Notable records from the early 20th century reveal that during World War I, on 12 July 1918, the eight-foot organ pipes were removed for wartime purposes, as noted in the municipal chronicle. The nearby school’s copper lightning rod met the same fate.

In 1925, a third bell was added to the two existing ones thanks to a donation from Mr. Daněk of Vitice. It was consecrated on 26 April 1925. The church tower's dome once housed a commemorative document, but it was severely damaged by rust and illegible by 1931. It was replaced with a new one. In 1933, the wooden columns of the tower and the old rusted sheet metal roofing were replaced with copper, and the dome and cross at the top were gilded. In 1934, the surrounding cemetery and church grounds were renovated — a drainage ditch was replaced with a concrete pipe, and the collapsing slope was secured. The worn steps, side walls, and handrails were also replaced. Today, the church is meticulously maintained.

This type of architectural structure is rare in Bohemia and was likely inspired by central chapels at pilgrimage sites in Northern Italy.

However, the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary is not the only nor the oldest Marian shrine in Skočice. A smaller and more modest chapel houses the well-known Skočice spring. The chapel is dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Considered healing, the spring was once sheltered by a simple wooden canopy.

The chapel has gone through periods of repair and neglect. Today, it is a sensitively restored square structure equipped with a pump, a hinged iron gate, and a faded image of the Virgin. Hidden among houses, it takes a while to find. In the late 17th century, the wooden shelter was replaced with a masonry chapel. It stands on land once belonging to František Trnka, No. 4, behind the former savings bank courtyard.

More detailed information about the church and its history can be found on the Skočice municipality website: http://www.skocice.cz/obec/obec-skocice/pamatky-zajimavosti/skocicky-kostel