The Zlín Region strives to lengthen Saint Cyril and Methodius Pilgrims' Path to Slovakia

10. 12. 2012

For a longer period of time, the Zlín Region has been trying to support the efforts of the Church and contribute in its own way to the blossoming of pilgrims' paths, the interest in which is on the increase worldwide. In the course of their pilgrimage to spiritual places many people of this high tech era clear up their personal questions and look for true values in life.

On the occasion of the 1150th anniversary of the arrival of Saints Cyril and Methodius to Moravia, to the territory close to Velehrad, which will be commemorated in 2013, a number of events will take place, which emerged from the initiative of the Zlín Region.

"We also hope that a celebration of such a significant anniversary right in the territory of the Zlín Region is, apart from other things, also a good opportunity for the development of religious and pilgrim tourism, for which there are suitable conditions in our region," said the councilor of the Zlín Region, Ladislav Kryštof, who is responsible for culture, tourism and cooperation with churches.

Specifically, this concerns the cooperation of the Zlín Region on the creation of the European Cultural Path of Saints Cyril and Methodius with a link to Velehrad, which was the main center of this route – be it as the starting point or the destination.

Presently, there does exist a pilgrims’ path in Moravia, which is divided into three main parts and which connects four important places of pilgrimage: Sv. Kopeček u Olomouce, Sv. Hostýn, Velehrad and Sv. Antonínek.

"We want to make use of the possibilities offered by the operational program called Cross-Border Cooperation Slovakia – Czech Republic 2007-2013, and that is why we are now proposing a project focused on the lengthening of the existing pilgrims' path by another part, namely from Sv. Antonínek to Kopčany-Mikulčice via Gbely to Šaštín. Thus, the route would be lengthened by seventy kilometers. In the future, we would like the path to lead on to Nitra and from there to the south of Europe," said Ladislav Kryštof.

Financial means from the European Union, which the region could obtain, if they are successful with their project, should be used for marking the terrain and for promotion. The overall cost of the project amounts to CZK 588 thousand, from which the assumed subsidy from the EU is CZK 500 thousand and CZK 88 thousand the region would pay from its own budget.

The realization of the project itself would be a task for the East Moravian Tourist Authority, which is an allowance organization founded by the Zlín Region, and other partners in the South Moravian Region and in Slovakia.

The Zlín Region focused on the development of religious and pilgrim tourism in the past already, when it opened, for example, a pioneering and in the Czech Republic so far unique project called Open Gates. The region also entered into a contract with the international organization I Cammini d´Europa which focuses on promotion of the potential of religious tourism on international tourism fairs.

At the beginning of July 2012, the region organized an international conference titled "European Cultural Path of Saints Cyril and Methodius", which took place at Modrá u Velehradu. This conference was attended by qualified representatives from Greece, Slovenia, Slovakia and Italy.

Written by: Helena Mráčková
7th December 2012
Further information:
Sýkorová Dvorníková Gabriela
press agent
Regional Office of the Zlín Region
577 043 190, 731 555 161