Church of Saint Jacob in Františkovy Lázně

The Church of St. James the Greater stands in Horní Lomany, once an independent village and now a district of Františkovy Lázně, in the Karlovy Vary Region of the Czech Republic. This modest parish church has served as the spiritual center of this part of the spa town for more than three centuries.

How did the church come to be?

Horní Lomany itself is first recorded in written sources as early as 1181, though an independent parish wasn't established here until May 1, 1711. The current stone church followed decades later, built between 1739 and 1741, most likely replacing an earlier, simpler structure. A renovation in 1790 is commemorated by a chronogram on the building — an inscription whose Roman-numeral letters spell out the year. The tower didn't receive its dome until 1886, nearly a century after the main body of the church was completed.

What can you see today?

The church has a simple rectangular nave closed off by a roughly square presbytery on the eastern end. The tower rises on the western side, and it's through this tower that visitors enter the building. Most of the interior furnishings date from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, making them almost contemporary with the church itself — altars, pews, and decorative elements all reflect the period in which the building was completed.

The 20th century was not kind to the structure, which led to a major renovation in 1989. Notably, much of that work was funded by former German residents of the region and their descendants, for whom the church remained a meaningful place of memory despite the postwar expulsions. A further round of restoration followed in 2004, keeping the building in good technical condition to this day.

How to get there and when to visit?

Horní Lomany sits on the southeastern edge of Františkovy Lázně, one of the three great spa towns of western Bohemia alongside Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Lázně. The church is easiest to reach on foot or by car from the spa town's center, and the distance is short enough to combine with a walk through the spa parks. As an active parish church, it's most accessible during services, so it's worth planning ahead or simply admiring the exterior if visiting outside Mass times.

Spring and summer are the best seasons to visit, when Františkovy Lázně is in full spa season and the surrounding avenues and gardens are at their most attractive. Pairing a walk to the church with a stroll through the town itself — known for its Art Nouveau architecture and tradition of drinking cures — makes for a well-rounded visit.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the church in Horní Lomany dedicated to? The church is dedicated to St. James the Greater, the apostle, and serves as the parish church for this district of Františkovy Lázně.

When was the current church built? It was constructed between 1739 and 1741 and renovated in 1790, a date recorded in a chronogram on the facade.

Is the tower original to the building? The tower's dome dates from 1886, considerably later than the rest of the structure.

Is the church still in use? Yes, it remains an active parish church and was restored in 1989 and again in 2004, keeping it in good condition.