St. Mountain Stairs

The monumental stairs connecting Příbram with Svatá Hora were built in the first half of the 18th century, at the time of the peak development of the Marian pilgrimage site. Their current form is usually dated to the years around 1727-1731, when a covered pilgrimage access was built as a dignified and safe way for the growing number of pilgrims. The staircase is conceived in the Baroque architectural style typical of the St. Mary's area, and is naturally linked to the overall composition of the pilgrimage site. The author of the design is not definitely documented as a single architect, but its creation has been linked to a circle of Baroque builders working for the Jesuit order that administered the Holy Mountain at the time. The stairs are covered, rhythmized with pillars and arches, which allowed pilgrims to climb in all weathers.

Traditionally, the staircase is said to have approximately 365 steps, symbolic of the days of the year and the daily human journey to God (but the truth is that there are 343 steps). Ascending the stairs was and is seen as a physical expression of prayer, repentance or gratitude. The stairs connect the urban space with the sacred hill and create a transition between the everyday and the sacred. It is still one of the most significant Baroque pilgrimage staircases in Bohemia. They are not just a historical monument, but a living path that pilgrims and visitors alike follow again and again.