Basilica of St. Lawrence and St. Zdislava (Jablonné v Podještědí)

The Basilica of St. Lawrence and St. Zdislava in Jablonné v Podještědí is one of the most important Baroque churches in northern Bohemia and a major pilgrimage site built around the tomb of St. Zdislava. The church forms part of a former Dominican monastery complex and has held the title of minor basilica since 1996. Since 2008 it has also been protected as a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

Why was a basilica built here?

The present church stands on the site of an older Gothic building, founded before 1252 by Zdislava of Lemberk and her husband Havel. Her relics rest in the crypts beneath today's basilica, a fact that has drawn pilgrims from across Bohemia and neighbouring countries for centuries. The Baroque church seen today came much later, once the original Gothic structure could no longer match the growing importance of the pilgrimage site.

Who designed the church that stands here today?

The basilica was built between 1699 and 1729 to a design by Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt, one of the most celebrated architects of Viennese Baroque. The construction was financed by František Antonín Count Berka of Dubé, the local landowner at the time. The result is considered one of the finest examples of Central European Baroque and one of the most significant Baroque religious buildings in northern Bohemia.

What makes the building's structure so unusual?

The basilica is defined by a striking contrast between what rises above ground and what lies hidden beneath it. Its dome reaches a height of 34 metres, while under the floor of the church three underground levels of catacombs extend as deep as 39 metres. It is within these depths that the site connected to the burial of St. Zdislava is found, forming the spiritual core of the pilgrimage that still brings visitors here today.

What role does the Dominican monastery play?

The basilica belongs to a monastery complex that has been run by Dominican friars for centuries. This combination of monastic life and pilgrimage has shaped the site for generations: visitors come not only to admire the architecture, but above all to pray at the tomb of the saint.

What happened during the recent restoration?

In recent years the basilica underwent an extensive reconstruction costing more than 62 million Czech crowns. The restored church reopened to the public on 1 May 2024, following years of conservation work covering both the interior and the building's structure. As a result, visitors can now experience the basilica in a state close to its historical splendour.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Basilica of St. Lawrence and St. Zdislava located? In the town of Jablonné v Podještědí, in the Liberec Region of northern Bohemia, Czech Republic.

Who was St. Zdislava and why is this site connected to her? Zdislava of Lemberk and her husband Havel founded the original Gothic church on this site before 1252. Her relics rest in the crypts beneath the current basilica, making it the principal centre of her cult.

Who designed the current Baroque church? It was built between 1699 and 1729 to a design by Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt, a leading architect of Viennese Baroque, financed by Count František Antonín Berka of Dubé.

Since when has the church held the title of minor basilica? Since 1996, and since 2008 it has additionally been protected as a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

Can visitors see the underground parts of the church? Beneath the church floor lie three levels of catacombs reaching 39 metres deep, containing the site connected to the burial of St. Zdislava that draws pilgrims to this day.

Was the basilica recently renovated? Yes, it underwent an extensive restoration costing over 62 million Czech crowns, with a ceremonial reopening held on 1 May 2024.