Church of Saint Bartholomew

Church of Saint Bartholomew in Heřmanův Městec is a late Baroque parish church standing on the town's main square, where it forms the dominant landmark of the historic center.

How old is the church on this site?

The first written record of Heřmanův Městec dates back to 1325, and a church dedicated to Saint Bartholomew is believed to have already stood here at that time. The building is documented as a parish church for the first time in December 1349. Over the following centuries the church was rebuilt more than once, including a Renaissance-era remodeling, before an eighteenth-century disaster reshaped it entirely.

Why does the church look Baroque today?

A major fire swept through the town in 1740, destroying the church that stood there at the time. Count Jan Václav Špork, the owner of the local estate, commissioned a complete reconstruction and hired local master builder František Tomáš Jedlička for the task. Construction of the new late Baroque church ran from 1756 to 1761. Jedlička drew on the late work of Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer and his successor Anselmo Lurago, as well as on Austrian late Baroque architecture more broadly. Thanks to its stylistic consistency, the church is regarded today as one of the notable monuments of East Bohemian Baroque.

What survived from the earlier building?

Jedlička did not start entirely from scratch. He kept the four-sided tower from the older structure and added a new rectangular, single-nave church closed by a semicircular apse, flanked by rectangular sacristies. This combination of an older tower with an entirely new Baroque body is one of the building's more distinctive architectural features.

What is worth seeing inside?

The interior is decorated with ceiling frescoes depicting legends from the life of Saint Bartholomew, painted by František Xaver Palko. The gallery still holds an impressive set of original Baroque organ pipes, one of the few elements of the church's historic furnishings to survive largely intact.

Has the church been restored recently?

Yes. In 2002 the church underwent a substantial renovation covering the exterior walls, roof structure and roof covering. The work was made possible through contributions from the state, the town, the church and private sponsors, helping preserve the building for future visitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Church of Saint Bartholomew located? It stands on the main square of Heřmanův Městec, in the Chrudim District of the Pardubice Region, and is visible from almost anywhere in the town center.

When was the current church built? The present late Baroque church was built between 1756 and 1761, after the previous church burned down in the town fire of 1740.

Who designed the church? It was designed by local master builder František Tomáš Jedlička, who drew inspiration from Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer and Anselmo Lurago.

What is the most valuable feature inside? The ceiling frescoes by František Xaver Palko depicting scenes from the life of Saint Bartholomew, and the original Baroque organ pipes in the gallery.