Loreto Prague

The Loreto sanctuary is not only one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Prague and the Czech Republic but also one of the beautiful buildings of the Bohemian baroque – comparable only to the church of St. Nicholas in Mala Strana, the Wallenstein Palace, and the Strahov Monastery – and, with its wealth reflects the fervent Catholic of its founders, the Lobkowicz family.

The sanctuary was founded by benign Katerina von Lobkowicz on 3rd June 1626, only a few years after the end of the bohemian part of the Thirty Years War. The Loreto was built in Prague to celebrate the political importance of Lobkowicz family, and especially to celebrate the restoration of the power of the Habsburgs and the Catholic Church.

 

The History of Czech Lands

In the Bronze Age the Czech lands became one of the most advanced cultural areas of Europe. People started building a heavily fortified settlement. Some residents of these forts were specialized for craft.

At the end of the 8th century BC, the inhabitants of the Czech lands began to mass produce and utilize iron. Around the year 200 BC lived in our area the Celts, who were building large cities (oppidum), surrounded by massive walls.
At the beginning of the first millennium the Celtic civilization extinguished and Germanic tribes fell in our territory.
In the 7th century, the first state formation – Samo’s kingdom, was created in our country. In 9th century saw the sun Great Moravia, the State Mojmir. But the fragile Moravian state organization, did not last long raids nomads.
At the end of the 9th century the government in Bohemia was taken by the Premislids. The first known prince was Borivoj and his wife Ludmila.
After the death of the last Premislids’ King Wenceslas III., in 1306, Czech nobles couldn’t decide who to choose as King of Bohemia for several years.