Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria

The Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria stands on the main square of the small town of Vysoké nad Jizerou, in the heart of the Krkonoše (Giant Mountains) foothills, in the Semily District of the Liberec Region. This single-nave Baroque stone church is the town's architectural landmark and has been a protected cultural monument since 1964.

How old is the church in Vysoké nad Jizerou?

Vysoké nad Jizerou already held town status before 4 August 1354, and a wooden church was built for its parish no later than the first half of the 14th century. That original timber church served the local community for several centuries before being replaced by the stone building visitors see today.

Where did the current Baroque building come from?

Between 1725 and 1741, the wooden chapel was replaced with a new single-nave stone church built in the Baroque style. This 18th-century structure still stands today and remains the most recognizable landmark of Vysoké nad Jizerou, visible from most parts of the town.

What happened during the town's great fire?

On 29 July 1834, a destructive fire swept through Vysoké nad Jizerou and reached the church tower as well. The heat was intense enough to melt the bells cast in 1586 and 1673 and to destroy the tower clock dating from 1764. The fire then spread to the church's side galleries and to the main altar, which held a painting of Saint Catherine from 1817. This fire remains one of the most significant events in the building's history, wiping out furnishings accumulated over decades.

What bells ring in the tower today?

After the damage caused by the 19th-century fire, the bells had to be recast from scratch. The ones hanging in the tower today date from 1971 - steel bells cast at the Třinec Iron Works, one of the Czech Republic's major metallurgical plants.

Where exactly is the church located?

The church occupies the central spot on the main square of Vysoké nad Jizerou, a small town in the Krkonoše mountains, in the Semily District of the Liberec Region, close to the Polish border. Its geographic coordinates are 50.685081, 15.402619 - an easy point to locate, since the church tower dominates the skyline of the entire town.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the church in Vysoké nad Jizerou dedicated to? The church is dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, after whom the entire building is named.

In what architectural style was the church built? It is a single-nave Baroque stone church, built in the first half of the 18th century.

Since when has the church been protected as a monument? The building has been listed as a protected cultural monument since 1964.

When was the current stone building constructed? Construction took place between 1725 and 1741, replacing an earlier wooden parish church known from the first half of the 14th century.

Did the 1834 fire cause serious damage to the church? Yes - the fire destroyed historic bells from 1586 and 1673, the tower clock from 1764, and the painting of Saint Catherine on the main altar from 1817.