Church of Holy Trinity

The Church of the Holy Trinity stands right where Sezemice opens onto the road to Holice, and it ranks among the oldest sacred buildings in eastern Bohemia. Its earliest sections date back to the first half of the 13th century, while the building itself is believed to have been founded even earlier, in the late 12th century, in late Romanesque style. Centuries of Gothic additions and Baroque decoration have layered onto that early core, turning the church into a compact lesson in Central European architectural history.

How do you get there?

The church sits directly on the road leading out of Sezemice towards Holice, so arriving by car is the simplest option, with parking available close by. Because Sezemice borders Pardubice, that larger regional city makes a convenient base for exploring the area. The tall wooden bell tower next to the church is visible from a distance and works well as a landmark while navigating the surroundings.

What will you see inside and around the church?

The building is a spacious single-nave structure with a trapezoidal presbytery, flanked by two Gothic chapels. The Chapel of St. Anthony, on the south side, dates from around the mid-14th century, while the northern Chapel of St. Anne, built between 1380 and 1390, is attributed to the workshop connected to the Parler family — the circle of master builders behind some of the most important Gothic projects in the Czech lands. The original brickwork uses a distinctive early Gothic bonding pattern known among architectural historians as the "Sezemice bond," a technique closely associated with this very building.

Inside, the Baroque decoration comes as a surprise after the austere medieval exterior. The monumental main altar, richly carved, along with two side altars, dates from around the middle of the 18th century. The nave's ceiling is covered with illusionistic frescoes painted by Josef Kramolín in 1784, adding a theatrical lightness that contrasts sharply with the building's medieval stone mass.

Right beside the church stands a massive wooden bell tower topped with a bulbous spire, rising to 15 meters. A structure of this shape and scale is unique in Bohemia — there is nothing comparable elsewhere in the country, which alone makes it worth a stop.

What is the history behind this place?

After 1270, the originally modest church was enlarged to serve the needs of a newly founded Cistercian nunnery, and it was for the sisters' use that the Gothic chapels were added. The monastery's existence was relatively short-lived: it ceased operating in 1421, during the Hussite campaign into eastern Bohemia, a period that brought destruction to many religious institutions across the region. The church itself survived and continued to be furnished over the following centuries, as the Baroque altars and 18th-century frescoes attest.

When is the best time to visit?

The church can be visited year-round, though spring and summer are the most comfortable seasons, when longer daylight hours let visitors appreciate both the exterior architecture and the naturally lit interior. It is worth checking whether the local "Night of Churches" event coincides with your visit, since the building is sometimes opened to the public with an extended program on that occasion.

Frequently asked questions

Is the church in Sezemice open to visitors? Yes, the church can be visited, though access to the interior depends on service times and the local parish's arrangements, so it is worth checking in advance.

What makes this church especially distinctive? The combination of a medieval core, Gothic side chapels, and an unusual wooden bell tower with a bulbous spire that has no equivalent elsewhere in Bohemia.

Where does the term "Sezemice bond" come from? It refers to the distinctive brick-laying pattern used in the church's original construction, a technique notable enough in architectural history to be named after Sezemice itself.

How far is the church from Pardubice? Sezemice lies right next to Pardubice, so the drive typically takes only a few minutes.