Basilica of All Saints in Česká Lípa

The Basilica of All Saints in Česká Lípa is a Baroque Roman Catholic church and former Augustinian monastery church, standing at the heart of this town in the Liberec Region of northern Czechia. Since 1927 it has held the honorary title of minor basilica, granted by Pope Pius XI.

How did the basilica come to be?

The story begins in 1627, when Albrecht von Wallenstein founded an Augustinian monastery in Česká Lípa. The idea came from Wallenstein's personal chaplain, the Augustinian friar Paulus Konopeus, and the founding charter is dated 12 March 1627. The friars themselves had already settled in the town in 1624 and remained until 1950, running, among other things, a large boarding school and a Latin church school.

The first monastery church burned down in a devastating town fire in 1661. Construction of a new church began in 1700, and the finished building, dedicated to All Saints, was consecrated on 1 November 1707 by the order's provincial, Father Pelikán.

Why is it called a basilica?

A later fire that swept through the town in 1820 destroyed the church tower's onion-shaped dome. It was replaced by a makeshift, pointed spire that has survived to this day and now defines the building's silhouette. The church's standing kept growing regardless of these architectural setbacks: on 9 July 1927, Pope Pius XI elevated it to the rank of minor basilica, making it one of the papal churches in the Czech Republic.

What is inside the basilica?

The interior is dominated by a striking double-sided carved altar, its niches and cornice populated by figures of the apostles. Above it rises a canopy shaped like an acanthus crown, carried by four twisted columns wrapped in garlands and topped by a globe bearing the crucified Christ. The first two rows of wooden pews display rich carvings from the late 17th century, while the altars themselves date from the 18th century. Seven frescoes depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary, painted by the Italian artist Antonio Dardani, cover the church walls.

The choir loft holds an organ considered one of the largest and finest in the whole country. It was built in 1848 by the workshop of the Feller brothers — Franz Jr., Josef and Anton — from Libouchec near Ústí nad Labem. Following a thorough restoration in 1940, the instrument survives in a rare, near-original condition.

Where exactly is the basilica located?

The Basilica of All Saints stands in Česká Lípa, in the Liberec Region, right next to the former Augustinian monastery buildings that shaped the town's religious and educational life for more than three centuries.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors enter the basilica? The church still functions as an active parish church, and the local tourist information centre in Česká Lípa organizes occasional open days, especially during the summer season.

Why does the church carry the title of basilica? Pope Pius XI granted it the title of minor basilica in 1927, raising the church to papal status.

What is the interior's biggest highlight? The historic 1848 organ, regarded as one of the finest instruments of its kind in Czechia, alongside the richly carved main altar and Antonio Dardani's frescoes.

Who founded the monastery attached to the basilica? The Augustinian monastery was founded in 1627 by Albrecht von Wallenstein, at the initiative of his chaplain, Father Paulus Konopeus.