Loreta is one of the main pilgrimage sites in Prague. The name goes back to the Italian town Loretto. The legend says that after the Saracens' invasion of Palestine, angels took the Holy House (Santa Casa) first to Dalmatia and then to Loretto. It was the very same house where the Virgin Mary lived and where archangel Gabriel came to her and announced that she would become the Mother of God.

Loreta in Winter, Prague

Prague Loreta exists thanks to Countess Kateřina Benigna of Lobkowicz. She ordered to build a copy of the Holy House in 1626 and invited Giovanni Battista Orsi, the architect from Vienna. It is believed that the Holy House in Prague is the most accurate of all copies of the Italian original. The difference is that the Italian Santa Casa is located inside a basilica, while the Prague copy stands in the middle of a courtyard.

The Holy House has a square layout. The facades are decorated with stucco depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. Inside is a statue of the Virgin Mary of Loreto from the 17th century carved out from linden wood.

The House is surrounded by a gallery with six chapels. The Loreta complex also includes the Church of the Nativity of the Lord, a tower with a carillon and a treasury.

The Main Facade of Loreta, Prague

There are more than 300 precious items in the Loreta treasury. They include mainly monstrances, chalices, and small altars. Perhaps the most famous item here is the diamond monstrance named Prague Sun. Countess Lyudmila of Kolowrat received 6500 diamonds as a wedding present from her fiance, who was 35 years younger than she was. In her will, the countess ordered to give those diamonds to Loreta after her death. Craftsmen in Vienna made a precious monstrance decorated with 6222 diamonds. The rest was used as payment for work. The Prague Sun is made of gold-plated silver and weighs 12 kg.

Carillon of Loreta, Prague

The main facade of Loreta is the work of architects Kristof and Kilian Ignaz Dietzenhofer. They also created a clock tower with the famous carillon — a musical instrument made from bells. These bells are fixed in place and are sounded by hammers. Hammers, in turn, are set in motion either by pressing keys on the keyboard or by a clock mechanism. There are 30 bells in Loreta carillon, though only 27 are played (the 3 smallest are not connected to the mechanism). Every hour the hymn ‘Thousands of Greetings to You’ is played.

If you want to make the most of your visit to Prague, there are plenty of exciting activities and tours to explore the city’s history, architecture, and culture. From guided walking tours through the Old Town to boat trips along the Vltava River, you can discover hidden gems and iconic landmarks. Check out a curated selection of top Prague experiences on the GetYourGuide platform to plan an unforgettable trip.