Church of the Holy Trinity in Hostinné

The Church of the Holy Trinity is the oldest stone building in Hostinné, a small town at the foot of the Krkonoše (Giant) Mountains in the Czech Republic. This late Gothic parish church, listed as a Czech cultural monument, has stood beside the town square for centuries and remains the natural landmark for anyone exploring this corner of the Krkonoše foothills.

How old is the church?

The first written record of the church dates to 1270, the year it was consecrated, marking the start of its documented history. The building survived the turmoil of the Hussite Wars, withstanding a Hussite attack — a fact that says something about how solidly it was built even in its earliest form. Over the following centuries the church went through several rounds of rebuilding, each of which left its mark on the structure visitors see today.

Where does its late Gothic appearance come from?

The decisive rebuild came in 1539, when the church took on the late Gothic form it still shows today. A further major phase followed between 1572 and 1610, when the building was completed and renovated in Renaissance style. It was during this same period that the massive six-story tower was raised — the tower that still dominates the town's skyline, standing 53 meters tall.

How is the interior laid out?

The church is built as a three-nave hall church. Its nave dates from 1573, while the five-sided presbytery, with its elongated ground plan, is actually older, built in 1553. Pairing an older presbytery with a later nave illustrates how the church took shape gradually, in stages, over the course of the 16th century rather than in one single building campaign.

What is worth seeing inside?

The main altar, in pseudo-Gothic style, dates from 1878 and is one of the newer pieces of furnishing. The side altars are Baroque. Particular attention goes to the Renaissance pulpit from 1612, carried by carved figures of Moses and Aaron — a detail not commonly found in churches in this part of the Czech Republic. On the south side of the building stand the sacristy and the Chapel of St. Joachim, which holds the stone tombstones of the Wallenstein family, who owned the town from 1521 onward.

Why does the Chapel of St. Joachim matter to the town's history?

The chapel is where the church's link to local noble history is most visible. The Wallensteins, who took over Hostinné in 1521, left their stone tombstones here — a physical trace of one family's centuries-long presence in the life of the town, still visible today to anyone stepping inside.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Church of the Holy Trinity located? In the center of Hostinné, a town at the foot of the Krkonoše Mountains in the Czech Republic.

When was the church built? It was first recorded and consecrated in 1270, but its current late Gothic form dates from a rebuild in 1539.

How tall is the church tower? The six-story tower, built between 1572 and 1610, is 53 meters tall.

What can be found in the Chapel of St. Joachim? Stone tombstones of the Wallenstein family, who owned Hostinné from 1521.

What style is the main altar? The main altar is pseudo-Gothic and dates from 1878, while the side altars are Baroque.