Church of Saint Catherine

Church of Saint Catherine stands in Havlíčkův Brod, a town in the Vysočina region of the Czech Republic, and ranks among the oldest religious buildings in the area — its story stretches back to the 13th century.

Where did the church come from?

The original Gothic building was raised on the site of a former ford across the Sázava River, the very crossing that gave the town its historic name, Deutscher Brod ("German Ford"). The church served as a hospital chapel attached to a neighbouring monastery and was closely tied to the town's earliest settlement, in particular to its mining past — the area around Brod was once known for silver extraction. The first written record of the church dates to 1319.

How has the building changed over the centuries?

A new Baroque church replaced the Gothic 14th-century mining-era structure between 1639 and 1642, built directly on its predecessor's foundations. The building endured a rough history: floods struck it in 1635, a fire destroyed much of it in 1662, and another flood hit in 1714. Its present-day facade dates from a reconstruction in 1890, following earlier Neo-Romanesque remodelling carried out in the 1880s.

Why was the church closed for so long?

Over the decades the building fell into disrepair and was eventually closed entirely. A demanding restoration effort began in 2018, led by the local parish in cooperation with the Epigram Society. Ownership later passed from the Roman Catholic Church to the town of Havlíčkův Brod, which has continued the renovation work.

What is happening at the site today?

The Church of Saint Catherine is a protected cultural monument. Restoration currently underway includes a full roof replacement, with new larch-wood shingles being installed. The work, costing around 2.1 million Czech crowns, is funded through a regional subsidy from Vysočina.

Where exactly is the church located?

The building sits in the eastern part of the Czech Republic, in the Vysočina region, at coordinates 49.6037 N, 15.5798 E, within the town of Havlíčkův Brod, close to the Sázava riverbed where the original ford once stood.

FAQ

How old is the Church of Saint Catherine? Its oldest, Gothic core dates from the 13th century, and the church is first documented in writing in 1319.

Is the current building still Gothic? Not entirely. What visitors see today is mainly a Baroque church built between 1639 and 1642 on Gothic foundations, with a facade that was reshaped again in 1890 in a Neo-Romanesque style.

Can the church be visited today? The building was closed for years due to its poor condition. Since 2018, the town of Havlíčkův Brod has been carrying out a gradual restoration, including a new roof.

Who owns the church now? Ownership passed from the Roman Catholic Church to the town of Havlíčkův Brod, which is responsible for its ongoing renovation.