bayerischer wald 

History of the place of pilgrimage

The pilgrimage of Neukirchen b. Hl. Blut - legend
The Statue of the Holy Mary in Neukirchen beim Hl. Blut counts for centuries as one of the most important places of pilgrimage in Bavaria.
The legend is connected to Bohemia. The legend tells us that in 1420 a devotional countrywoman of a small village in Bohemia saved the statue of the holy Mary to Neukirchen b. Hl. Blut as in those days in Bohemia hussites were destroying all sorts of images and statues of saints. Some years later the hussites crossed the boarders to Bavaria and destroyed houses and set fire to villages. The legend says that one hussite saw the Statue of the holy Mary in some small chapel and intended to destroy it. When he put his sword onto the head of the Statue human blood flowed out of it. The hussite was so staggered by that that he became a believer.

The story of the hussite is painted at the balustrade of the organ in the beautiful baroque church. The statue of the holy Mary can be seen behind glass in the gold and silver-altar.