Church of Saint James the Greater

The Church of Saint James the Greater in Kounice is a small Roman Catholic branch church standing in the centre of this village in the Nymburk district of Central Bohemia, right next to the local chateau. Its roots reach back to the Middle Ages, and although later rebuilding gave it a Baroque appearance, its tower still recalls the days when the church doubled as a fortified defensive structure.

How old is the church?

Historians believe a church may have stood on this site as early as the 12th century, though the first written record dates only to 1350, when it appears in the deanery registers of Kouřim. Two years later, in 1352, sources describe it as a parish church, with Zdeněk, Jan and Jiří of Kounice — local landowners — listed as its patrons. By the time of the Thirty Years' War, its status had changed: it was already recorded as a branch (filial) church, subordinate to another parish, a role it retains today. Since 1 January 2005, it has been administered by the Roman Catholic parish in Český Brod, within the Kolín vicariate.

What survives from the Gothic building?

Despite the Baroque remodelling that shaped its current appearance, one striking element from the original Gothic phase remains: the pointed tower rising from the façade. This was no ordinary bell tower — in the Middle Ages it served a defensive purpose, a feature typical of fortified rural churches in this part of Bohemia. In 1769 the tower was shortened by one storey, altering the building's proportions while leaving its Gothic character still recognisable.

What can visitors see inside?

The church's greatest artistic asset is its high-Baroque furnishings. In the first quarter of the 18th century, on the initiative of Count Václav Morzin, the interior was enriched with works from the workshop of Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff, one of the most significant Baroque sculptors active in Bohemia at the time. These pieces remain the main draw for visitors interested in the region's sacred art. The church also houses an organ from 1907, built by master organ maker Jindřich Schiffner of Cvikov, an instrument that has retained its historic character to this day.

Is the church a protected monument?

Yes. The building is listed on the Czech register of cultural monuments under registration number 16034/2–1836, confirming its recognised historical and architectural value at a national level.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? In the centre of Kounice, near the local chateau, in the Nymburk district of the Central Bohemian Region.

Is it still a parish church? No — today it functions as a branch church, administered since 2005 by the parish in Český Brod (Kolín vicariate). In the 14th century, however, it did serve as a parish church.

What is the church's most valuable feature? Its Baroque furnishings from the workshop of Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff, commissioned in the early 18th century by Count Václav Morzin, along with its historic 1907 organ.

Did the tower once have a defensive role? Yes, the pointed Gothic tower on the façade originally served a defensive function before being shortened by one storey in 1769.