Church of Holy Trinity

The Church of the Holy Trinity in Slaný is a Baroque building erected between 1581 and 1602, standing in a parkland setting on the grounds of a former cemetery at Hlaváčkovo Square, north of the town's historic centre. Together with its adjoining monastery complex, the church is protected as an immovable cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

How did the church come to be built outside the town walls?

The building began life as a Protestant church, constructed at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries by master builder Volf together with the mason J. Maceta. The site chosen for it was once known as Golgotha — before construction began, it had served as an execution ground, lying beyond the protective walls of the town. The location's original character was, in other words, far removed from the quiet, green surroundings visitors find there today.

What role does the adjoining monastery play?

Since 1662 a monastery has stood beside the church, founded originally by Franciscan friars. Today the complex serves as the seat of the Discalced Carmelites. For centuries the presence of a religious order gave the site more than a purely liturgical function — church and monastery together form a compact complex that has survived numerous rebuilding phases over the centuries.

What happened during the fire of 1665?

In 1665 a fire swept through the monastery and church, causing one of the towers to collapse. During the reconstruction that followed, the nave of the church was enlarged, giving the building much of the form it retains today. This post-fire rebuilding marks one of the key turning points in the structure's history — it was then that its present-day shape took hold.

What is worth seeing inside?

Two features stand out for visitors. The first is the organ, built in 1776 by Antonín Reiss. What makes it unusual is that it was integrated directly into the main altar — a solution combining a musical instrument with altar architecture that was uncommon even in its own time. Only a fragment (a torso) of this arrangement survives today.

The second is the Loreto Chapel, founded in 1657 by Bernard Ignác, Count Bořita of Martinic. In accordance with his last wishes, part of his heart was buried beneath the chapel — a practice of symbolically dividing one's remains between different places of worship that was not unusual among noble families of the period.

Who is this church for?

The Church of the Holy Trinity will appeal above all to travellers seeking Baroque architecture away from the main tourist trail, as well as to anyone interested in the history of Czech ecclesiastical buildings. The tranquil, park-like grounds of the former cemetery also make it a pleasant spot to pause during a visit to Slaný.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Church of the Holy Trinity in Slaný built? Construction took place between 1581 and 1602; it was originally built as a Protestant church.

Why was the site once called Golgotha? Before the church was built, the land served as an execution ground located outside the town walls.

Which religious order resides at the monastery today? The adjoining monastery, founded in 1662 by Franciscans, is now the seat of the Discalced Carmelites.

What happened to the church in 1665? A fire destroyed one of its towers; the subsequent reconstruction enlarged the church's nave.

What is special about the church's organ? The 1776 organ by Antonín Reiss was built directly into the main altar; only a fragment of it survives today.

What is the Loreto Chapel next to the church? It is a chapel founded in 1657 by Count Bernard Ignác Bořita of Martinic, beneath which part of his heart was buried at his own request.