Church of Saint Adalbert

Church of Saint Adalbert is a Baroque parish church standing at the center of Vejprnice, a small village in the Plzeň-North District in western Czechia. While the building's current form dates from the 18th century, the parish itself traces back to the Middle Ages, making it one of the more notable religious landmarks in the area around Plzeň.

How do you get there?

Vejprnice sits right on the western edge of Plzeň, so the village is only a short drive or local bus ride from the city center. The church occupies the heart of the village, making it an easy landmark to spot and a natural stop for anyone exploring the Plzeň region alongside its other historic sites.

What will you see?

The site's history goes back long before the building you see today. A Gothic church already stood here in 1355, when records mention tithes collected from the Vejprnice parish. The first parish administrator appears in sources in 1368, and the first resident priest in 1377. The church visitors see now was built between 1722 and 1726, designed by the architect František Maxmilián Kaňka or his pupil František Ignác Preé, giving it its present Baroque character. Following the tradition of rural churches in the region, its main altar faces west rather than east.

The real highlight is the sculptural and painted decoration added over the following decades of the 18th century. Between 1740 and 1760, sculptor and woodcarver Lazar Widemann produced nearly fifty figures for the interior, while painter František Julius Lux contributed the accompanying artwork. Together they created a presbytery with arcades where sculpture and painting blend so closely that the line between real architecture and painted illusion nearly disappears — an unusually ambitious interior for a small rural parish.

The church is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, a status that confirms its historical and artistic value extends well beyond the local community.

When should you visit?

The church functions as an active parish, so the best opportunities to see the interior are during Mass or during the annual Noc kostelů (Night of Churches) event, when religious buildings across the Czech Republic open their doors to visitors outside regular hours. It's a good chance to take in the presbytery's decoration without rushing and often comes with extra context from parish volunteers. Outside that event, it's worth checking Mass times or opening hours in advance.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the Vejprnice church dedicated to? It is dedicated to Saint Adalbert of Prague, a bishop and missionary who died while trying to convert the Prussians, and who is venerated as a patron saint of Bohemia, Poland, and Hungary.

How old is the church? The parish and an earlier Gothic church already existed here in the 14th century, while the current Baroque building was constructed between 1722 and 1726.

What is the most valuable part of the interior? Lazar Widemann's sculptural decoration from 1740–1760, comprising nearly fifty figures, together with František Julius Lux's paintings, which combine to form an illusionistic arcaded presbytery.

Can you visit the inside of the church? Yes, mainly during Mass and during the Night of Churches event — it's best to check current opening times in advance, since the building remains an active parish church.