Biblical Landmarks: An Easter Journey from Bethlehem to Jerusalem via Tábor

While we may not uncover the answers to every single question about the universe, we will certainly find stunning areas in our countryside. We’ll discover quaint spots in towns and villages, and most importantly, we’ll encounter a handful of fascinating stories to share. Our ancestors were not only familiar with the Bible and its tales, but they also used many geographical names from it to label various places around them. Because of their influence, during our Easter journey with Kudy z nudy and the Fourteen Regions & Fourteen Tips series, we will start from Bethlehem, take a detour to Jordan, visit Babylon or Zion, and ultimately arrive in Jerusalem. Or would you prefer to check out the Mount of Olives, Nazareth, or Jericho? Surprisingly, all these places can actually be found right here in the Czech Republic!

1. Prague and the Bethlehem Chapel

The centerpiece of any Easter exploration is certainly the Bethlehem Chapel. This historic place, where Master Jan Hus gave sermons, is full of historical significance. Have you heard the intriguing detective story about how the Bethlehem Chapel vanished for over 150 years only to miraculously return? Nowadays, the Bethlehem Chapel in Prague resembles a grand medieval structure, but it won’t celebrate its centenary of reopening until 2054. Architect Jaroslav Fragner designed it right in the same location as the original Bethlehem Chapel, where the foundations of the Czech Reformation were established in the 15th century. Although it lacks a traditional nativity scene with a manger and the smell of hay, it certainly carries a deep spiritual essence. After your visit, make sure to stroll through the Old Town and enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the local cafés because even those on a pilgrimage deserve a little break!

2. Central Bohemia Region, Jerusalem, Jordan, Nazareth and Jericho

If you have an interest in visiting Jerusalem, you won’t need to travel all the way to Israel. Just head to the Central Bohemia Region, where there’s a small hamlet named Jerusalem, part of Příbram. Here, you can enjoy a stay at a farm and visit the pilgrimage site at Svatá Hora, where the Way of the Cross and other landmarks symbolically relate to the Holy Land. To make your visit even more delightful, don’t miss out on stopping by local bakeries for a traditional Easter cake.

Other biblical names in the Central Bohemian Region:

• Jericho – This is a locality in Vysoká Lhota near Čerčany.
• Jordan – This name is derived from the 251-kilometre-long River Jordan (the longest river in Jordan, Palestine, and Israel) – several ponds here have been named after it. It’s not just the Jordán in Odolena Voda, but also the most renowned one, located in Tábor, South Bohemia. Just a heads-up, it’s a valley reservoir we’ll discuss later. The name Jordán is also given to a hill near Zaječov, located at the border between the Beroun and Příbram regions, and to the shooting range and Jordán nature trail in the former military training grounds of the Brdy Mountains.
• Nazaret – this is the name of a street in Čáslav.
• Close to Kutná Hora, near Chlístovice, you will come across the ruins of Sion Castle. This small castle was constructed in 1426 by Jan Roháč of Dubá (c. 1374–1437) and is named after a hill on Temple Mount in Jerusalem; however, in the Old Testament, “Zion” often refers to the entirety of Israel, the capital Jerusalem, or even the whole Israeli nation.

3. South Bohemian Region, Tábor and the Jordan

The town of Tábor in the South Bohemian Region derives its name from a biblical mountain, but for a truly thematic experience, venture to the Jordan. This location is the oldest dam in Central Europe, which has historically served as a water reservoir for the town. Today, it’s a favored spot for leisurely walks and relaxation; while you’re there, don’t forget to visit the Jordán Waterfall too. And while in Tábor, ensure you check out the Hussite Museum to add a bit of historical context to your trip!

4. The Plzeň Region and Babylon

While biblical Babylon represented confusion and human pride, the Babylon in the Plzeň Region is more linked to summer swimming and leisure activities. The village of Babylon near Domažlice is famous for its natural swimming area. If you visit around Easter, instead of a towering structure reaching for the skies, you’ll see tourists heading towards the ‘Devil’s Stone’ rocking stone, local springs, and statues. You might even spot some eager winter swimmers eager to jump into the first swim of spring.

5. Karlovy Vary Region and Calvary near Valče

Places named Golgotha or Calvary were named after a hill in Jerusalem where, according to tradition, Jesus Christ was crucified. Only a few instances of the name Golgotha remain, for example, the variant Golgata, which refers to an old execution site near Slaný. Much more widespread is Kalvárie, which carries the same meaning. A hill featuring the Way of the Cross, known as Kalvárie, can be found in the beautiful countryside near Valč in the Karlovy Vary Region. Here, you’ll discover lovely Baroque sculptures by Matyáš Bernard Braun, breathtaking views of the area, and the chance to explore the nearby woods for the remnants of an old chapel. To end your symbolic pilgrimage, you can relax in the park at Valeč Castle, which has plenty of charming spots ideal for a picnic.

6. Ústí nad Labem Region and the Calvary at the Gate of Bohemia

When you hear the term Gate of Bohemia, you might think of the remarkable Porta Bohemica – the canyon carved by the River Elbe through the Central Bohemian Uplands. Overlooking this stunning natural beauty is the Calvary of the Three Crosses, which offers remarkable views of the surrounding area and is shrouded in various legends. One legend tells of three maidens who fell in love with a knight from Kamýk. Since only one could marry him and they had sworn eternal friendship, they ultimately decided to die together. They climbed a cliff above the Elbe, bid their final farewell to the knight in Kamýk, and then leapt off the edge. The knight then had three crosses erected on the rock and rode away searching for a new bride.

7. Liberec Region and Mount Olivet

Mount Olivet in Jerusalem is a significant pilgrimage site: it houses the Garden of Gethsemane, the spot Jesus ascended from, and the western slope has a three-thousand-year-old Jewish cemetery, the largest in the world with 150,000 graves. In the Jizera Mountains, near the Bedřichov reservoir, there is a Mount Olivet named after the biblical site, stemming from a picture once displayed here. A path once led pilgrims from the Liberec region to Hejnice, where you can find the Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. Today, the New Pilgrimage Route still passes through this area.

8. Hradec Králové Region, Mount Oreb and Probošt’s Nativity Scene

Just like the South Bohemian town named Tábor after the biblical Mount Tabor near Nazareth, the hill in the Hradec Králové Region, rising 260 meters high, was referred to as Oreb as early as 1419 during a significant gathering of Hussite followers. This name is inspired by the biblical “Horeb,” which is sometimes called Sinai. Whichever name you favor, it is the mountain where, according to the Bible, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. The village at the hill’s base was named Třebechovice, and in 1920, it was renamed Třebechovice pod Orebem. Make a stop at the local Nativity Scene Museum, which showcases the over-100-year-old Probošt Nativity Scene. This nativity scene was constructed between 1882 and 1926 and is the only nativity scene in the Czech Republic recognized as a national cultural monument.

9. Pardubice Region, Nativity Scene and Adam Artillery Fortress

You can find a larger nativity scene compared to Probošt’s in Hlinsko. This quaint area, known as Betlém, consists of charming timber-framed and brick houses; the Betlém conservation zone, along with the Veselý Kopec open-air museum, presents exhibitions through the Vysočina Open-Air Museum. Though the name Adam may bring to mind a biblical ancestor, there’s no paradise waiting in the Pardubice Region; instead, you can expect a solid hefty dose of military history. Here, you will also come across the Adam artillery fort, which, like the Bouda fortress and numerous other structures within the Králíky fortification area, was part of the pre-war Czechoslovak defenses. To this day, the fort stands as an impressive example of military engineering, but as the underground areas are utilized by the Czech Army, Adam is completely off-limits to the public.

10. Vysočina, the water lily pond Jordán and the Babylon lookout tower

The village of Račín is located among forests northwest of Žďár nad Sázavou, in an area known as the Crown of Vysočina. What about the name Račín? It’s believed to be derived from crayfish that once thrived in the local streams. One of the attractions here is the Jordán water lily pond, where you can find a statue of a crayfish crafted by Michal Olšiak. This pond in the Vysočina Region is just one of many ‘Jordáns’ and ‘Jordánky’ found throughout the Czech Republic; this name is also used for springs or streams in some areas and even refers to a branch of the River Orlice. The biblical locations do not end there; you can also visit the Babylon Lookout Tower!

11. South Moravian Region and Křížový vrch in Hustopeče

In some places associated with Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, the Czech language uses the terms Golgotha or Calvary to describe Křížový vrch. This includes Křížový vrch, featuring the Chapel of St Roch in Hustopeče—a delightful area designed for relaxation. Previously, this place had a forest park with a natural amphitheater and the Chapel of St Roch, where T. G. Masaryk visited with his family during his stays in Hustopeče. Currently, visitors can enjoy, for example, a relaxation zone with a maze, benches, and a snail-shaped sensory trail, along with a small orchard filled with fruit trees for visitors to pick from, or a disc golf course. You can borrow discs from the local tourist information center.

12. Zlín Region and Jericho Forest

The town of Jericho, located on the west bank of the River Jordan northeast of Jerusalem, is regarded as one of the oldest cities in the world with continuous habitation. Archaeological excavations have revealed numerous settlements that have existed here over history; the oldest is believed to have existed around 9000 BC. From biblical accounts, we know Jericho as the city whose walls fell down after the ram’s-horn trumpets were blown. We’ve already mentioned Jericho in the Central Bohemian Region, and there’s also Jericho Forest, featuring a trail near Vlčnov that carries this name. When you cycle through this area, hope that no one sounds a horn to avoid a similar fate as the famous walls of Jericho!

13. Olomouc Region and Babylons

The Babylonian exile of the Jews, the Tower of Babel’s construction, the subsequent confusion of languages at Babel, and the name of the ancient Babylon’s capital are all reflected beautifully in Czech as Babylon. Various forests, villages, settlements, and hills bear the title Babylon or Babylón. In the Olomouc Region, you can find two hills named Babylon near Protivanov and Horní Štěpánov. Don’t forget to visit Prostějov, notable for its abundant collection of Jewish monuments.

14. Moravian-Silesian Region and Babylon in Ostrava

The final Babylon from our exploration is situated in the Moravian-Silesian Region. The water treatment facility in Ostrava-Nová Ves resembles the legendary Tower of Babel in floor plan and appearance, thus it was named Babylon. Unlike the biblical Tower of Babel, you can explore its interior: there’s an exhibit dedicated to the history of water supply to the regional capital, featuring panels that detail the history of Ostrava’s waterworks alongside other historical artifacts.