Church of Saint John of Nepomuk in Košíře

The Church of Saint John of Nepomuk in Košíře is one of Prague's most striking modernist places of worship, perched on a rocky rise in the quiet residential district of Košíře, Prague 5.

How do you get to the church in Košíře?

Košíře sits in the western part of Prague, next to the Smíchov and Motol districts, a short public-transport ride from the city centre. The church stands on elevated, rocky ground, so its tall tower is visible from a distance well before you reach the building itself. The surrounding neighbourhood has a distinctly residential character, making a walk around it a good way to see early-20th-century Prague housing architecture, quite different from the historic city centre. It works well as an add-on to a visit to Smíchov, which is only a short distance away.

What will you see there?

The church was designed by architect Jaroslav Čermák and completed in 1942. It is an example of Functionalist architecture, where a simple, geometric form is paired with a Franciscan sense of restraint — the building avoids the ornamentation typical of Prague's older Baroque churches. Rising from a rectangular floor plan is a slender, 55-metre prismatic tower topped with a stylised bell tower, visible from many points around the neighbourhood. The church complex also includes a winter chapel dedicated to Saint Wenceslas and a parish hall, making it more than just a place of worship — it also functions as a local hub of parish life. The building reached the form visitors see today at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, when some finishing details and the surroundings were completed.

When is the best time to visit?

The church is best appreciated during daylight hours, when the light brings out the geometric, austere shape of the tower and façades — the qualities that define its Functionalist design. Košíře is off the typical tourist track, so visitors can expect a quiet, uncrowded experience at any time of year, in contrast to Prague's historic centre. It's a good stop for anyone looking for a less obvious, more authentic corner of the city beyond the standard sightseeing route.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed the church in Košíře? The building was designed by architect Jaroslav Čermák and completed in 1942.

In what style was the church built? It is an example of Functionalist architecture — a simple, geometric structure on a rectangular plan, without the ornamentation typical of older Baroque churches in Prague.

How tall is the church tower? The distinctive prismatic tower, topped with a stylised bell tower, stands 55 metres tall and is visible from many points in the surrounding district.

Is there anything else on site besides the main church building? Yes — the complex also includes a winter chapel dedicated to Saint Wenceslas and a parish hall, which serve as a local centre of community life.