Church of Saint Clement (Stará Boleslav)

The Church of Saint Clement stands in Stará Boleslav, right beside the Basilica of St. Wenceslas, and ranks among the oldest surviving fragments of the early Přemyslid power centre on the Elbe.

What is the history behind this church?

This small Romanesque church was built directly next to the Basilica of St. Wenceslas as part of the buildings belonging to the collegiate chapter — the first institution of its kind in the Bohemian lands, founded between 1039 and 1046. At that time Stará Boleslav was one of the most important seats of Přemyslid authority, and successive churches raised around the site of Wenceslas's death were meant to reinforce the significance of the place. Archaeological work carried out around the basilica and the Church of St. Clement also covered a multi-level cemetery, whose graves were later radiocarbon-dated, helping researchers pin down a more precise chronology for the whole early medieval religious complex.

What can you see inside?

The church's biggest draw is its surviving wall paintings depicting the legend of St. Clement, considered the oldest known depiction of this story in art. The building itself, though modest in size, has kept a clearly legible Romanesque form that contrasts with the taller basilica towering next to it. It's precisely this small scale and architectural plainness that lets visitors picture what the original early medieval chapter complex looked like, long before Stará Boleslav acquired its more elaborate Baroque additions.

How do you get there?

The church stands on Náměstí sv. Václava in Stará Boleslav, today part of the town of Brandýs nad Labem-Stará Boleslav, roughly 25 km northeast of Prague. It sits at the heart of the local pilgrimage complex — right alongside the Basilica of St. Wenceslas and the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, so it makes sense to see all three on a single walk around the square.

When is the best time to visit?

Stará Boleslav has for centuries been a pilgrimage destination tied to the cult of St. Wenceslas, patron saint of the Czech lands, so the town is especially lively in September, around the annual Wenceslas celebrations. Outside the pilgrimage season, visitors get a much quieter experience than in central Prague, and the short distance from the capital makes it an easy half-day trip.

Frequently asked questions

How does the Church of St. Clement differ from the neighboring Basilica of St. Wenceslas? The Church of St. Clement is a much smaller Romanesque building erected as part of the collegiate chapter's supporting structures, while the Basilica of St. Wenceslas is the larger, more prominent site of worship tied directly to the saint's tomb.

Why does this church matter to historians? It is one of the oldest surviving buildings of the original collegiate chapter in Bohemia, and its wall paintings depicting the legend of St. Clement rank among the oldest such depictions in the region.

Can you visit the church together with the rest of the religious complex? Yes — the church stands directly on Náměstí sv. Václava next to the Basilica of St. Wenceslas and the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, so all three can be covered on one short walk.

How do you get to Stará Boleslav from Prague? Stará Boleslav lies about 25 km northeast of central Prague, within the town of Brandýs nad Labem-Stará Boleslav, reachable by regular train and road connections.