Church of Saint Bartholomew

The Church of Saint Bartholomew is the historic parish church of Březová nad Svitavou, a small town in the Pardubice Region of eastern Czechia. Standing close to the town's main square, Moravské náměstí, it remains the most recognizable landmark in the area.

How old is the church?

The original church dedicated to Saint Bartholomew dates back to the 13th century. As early as the 14th century, the parish was under the patronage of the Premonstratensian canons of Litomyšl, who appointed the local parish priests themselves — a sign of how significant a religious center Březová nad Svitavou already was at the time. The building's current appearance largely results from a Baroque reconstruction carried out between 1721 and 1725, when a new tower was added on the western facade and a Baroque crypt was built beneath the church.

What does the church look like today?

The church is a single-nave, nearly oriented Baroque building with a typical longitudinal layout. Its presbytery ends in a polygonal shape, and the whole structure is topped with a hipped roof. Above the western facade rises a slender, pyramid-shaped tower crowned with a characteristic Baroque dome and lantern — a detail that lends the building a sense of lightness despite its 13th-century origins.

What can visitors see around the church?

Right behind the church stands an early Baroque Marian column from 1690, one of the oldest surviving pieces of religious architecture in the town. Nearby there is also an iron cross, and a column bearing a statue of the Virgin Mary that was restored and gilded in 1972. Together with the church, these smaller monuments form a coherent historic religious ensemble worth walking around while exploring the center of Březová nad Svitavou.

Who should visit this church?

The Church of Saint Bartholomew is especially interesting for travelers passing through the Pardubice Region who care about religious architecture and the history of local parishes. It also makes a natural stop for anyone exploring the area around Svitava town and the Svitava river valley, since Březová nad Svitavou lies on the route connecting larger centers of the region. The church can easily be seen during a short stop, without needing to plan a dedicated trip.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Church of Saint Bartholomew in Březová nad Svitavou? The original church was built in the 13th century, while its current Baroque form dates from a reconstruction carried out between 1721 and 1725.

What architectural style is the church built in? The church is a Baroque building with a single-nave, longitudinal layout, a polygonal presbytery, and a distinctive western tower topped with a dome and lantern.

What is located next to the church? Directly behind the church stands an early Baroque Marian column from 1690, along with a nearby iron cross and a column with a statue of the Virgin Mary restored in 1972.

Where exactly is the church located? It stands in the center of Březová nad Svitavou, in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic, close to the town's main square.

Can a visit be combined with other attractions in the region? Yes — Březová nad Svitavou lies close to the town of Svitavy, making it easy to combine a visit to the church with sightseeing elsewhere in the Svitava river valley.