Church of St. Adalbert in Šťáhlavy

The Church of St. Adalbert (Czech: Kostel svatého Vojtěcha) stands within the chateau grounds of Šťáhlavy, a small village in the Czech Republic, just above the chateau itself in the direction of Plzeň. It is a compact but architecturally notable Late Baroque building, distinguished by its unusual hexagonal nave.

What is the history of the church?

The building's origins go back to 1638, when one of the sons of Jiřík Kokořovec of Kokořany erected a hexagonal chapel on the site. The structure kept this form for well over a century until 1778, when — during the era of the Černín family — it was rebuilt and enlarged in a style associated with Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, one of the leading architects of Bohemian Baroque. A further significant change came at the start of the 19th century, when the chapel was converted into a parish church and given three domes, which remain one of the building's most recognizable features today.

What does the exterior look like?

The façade is marked by a rectangular portal topped with a triangular pediment. A statue of St. Adalbert, the church's patron, crowns the gable, tying the building back to the dedication of the original 17th-century chapel. The hexagonal floor plan of the nave — an unusual choice for a sacred building in this region — sets the church apart from the more common rectangular parish churches nearby.

What can visitors see inside?

Inside, the church houses a Neoclassical main altar created by Ignác Michal Platzer the Younger, a sculptor active in Prague's artistic circles at the end of the 18th century. The altar bears the coat of arms of the Černín family, reflecting their role in financing the church's expansion in the second half of the 18th century. A second altar inside is dedicated to St. John of Nepomuk, one of the most widely venerated saints of Bohemian Baroque piety.

How is the church connected to Šťáhlavy chateau?

The church sits directly within the chateau grounds, positioned above the chateau itself, facing toward Plzeň. This location is no coincidence: the chapel, and later the church, was built as part of the noble estate and served its successive owners — first the Kokořovec family, and from the 18th century onward, the Černíns.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded the Church of St. Adalbert in Šťáhlavy? The original hexagonal chapel was built in 1638 by one of the sons of Jiřík Kokořovec of Kokořany. In 1778, the building was rebuilt and enlarged by the Černín family.

In what style was the church built? The church is Late Baroque, and its 1778 reconstruction follows a style associated with the architect Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer.

What is the most distinctive architectural feature of the church? Its hexagonal nave and the three domes added when the building was converted into a parish church in the early 19th century.

What artworks are inside the church? A Neoclassical main altar by Ignác Michal Platzer the Younger, bearing the Černín family coat of arms, and a separate altar dedicated to St. John of Nepomuk.

Where exactly is the church located? Within the chateau grounds of Šťáhlavy, above the chateau, in the direction of Plzeň.