Church of Saint Giles

Church of Saint Giles in Bezděz is a small Baroque parish church standing in the south-eastern part of the town, right at the foot of the hill crowned by the famous Bezděz Castle. It serves as a Roman Catholic parish church and is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

What is the history of the church?

The church's origins go back to the 12th century, when the original Romanesque building was constructed. The first written record of the church dates from 1293, when a document separated the filial churches of Kuřívodice, Krupá and Chlum from its parish — evidence that the Bezděz church was then the center of a considerably larger parish network. Over the following centuries the building was remodeled several times, first in Renaissance and later in Baroque style. The decisive reconstruction took place between 1764 and 1769, giving the church its present Baroque appearance. Despite this thorough remodeling, the oldest Romanesque apse has survived as a trace of the original structure.

What can visitors see today?

The oldest parts of the church are the nave and presbytery, built from sandstone blocks and dating back to its Romanesque origins. The tower is fully Baroque, added during the 18th-century reconstruction. Inside, the main altar draws attention with a painting of Saint Giles surrounded by rich sculptural and figural decoration — a valuable piece of artistic craftsmanship from the third quarter of the 18th century. The altar also holds a copy of the statue of Our Lady of Montserrat, brought here from the chapel of Bezděz Castle.

Why visit together with Bezděz Castle?

Because the church stands directly at the foot of the castle hill, it fits naturally into a visit to Bezděz alongside the Gothic royal castle towering above the town. It offers a quieter stop for visitors who, after climbing to the castle, also want to see the local place of worship tied to the settlement's history.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Church of Saint Giles in Bezděz? Its origins date back to the 12th century, and the first written mention comes from 1293. The church owes its current Baroque appearance to a reconstruction carried out between 1764 and 1769.

Have any parts of the original Romanesque building survived? Yes — the Romanesque apse, together with the sandstone nave and presbytery, survived later rebuilding and remain the oldest preserved parts of the church.

What is on the main altar? A painting of Saint Giles with rich sculptural decoration from the third quarter of the 18th century, along with a copy of the statue of Our Lady of Montserrat, moved here from the chapel of Bezděz Castle.

Where exactly is the church located? In the south-eastern part of Bezděz, at the foot of the hill on which Bezděz Castle stands.