Church of Saint John the Baptist

The Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist stands in Polubný, a small settlement that belongs to the municipality of Kořenov, in the Jablonec nad Nisou district, deep in the Jizera Mountains on the Czech side of the border. It's a modest parish church, but one that anchors more than two centuries of local history tied closely to the region's glassmaking trade.

Where exactly is the church located?

The building sits in Polubný, a hamlet within the Kořenov municipality, close to the Polish border and surrounded by the wooded hills of the Jizera Mountains. Its coordinates are roughly 50.771 N, 15.346 E. The setting is typical for this part of the Sudetes: scattered mountain settlement, coniferous forest, and a centuries-old tradition of glass production.

What's the history behind it?

Polubný became the seat of its own parish in 1793, the year the church — dedicated to the Nativity of St. John the Baptist — was consecrated. Before that, residents of this stretch of the mountains had to rely on churches further away, a real burden given the terrain and harsh winters typical of the area. Establishing a local parish and building a church responded to the practical needs of a growing community that made its living mainly from glassworks and forest-based trades.

The church is today a protected heritage building. Beneath it lies a cemetery with numerous graves predating 1945, along with two memorials to victims of the Second World War — a reminder of the region's turbulent history and the major demographic shift it underwent after the war.

What stands out inside?

The interior owes much of its character to its lighting. Two smaller chandeliers were donated by local glass merchants, Ignáz Friedrich and Augustin Seidl, both connected to Polubný's glass trade. The largest, central chandelier dates from 1842 and was crafted by Franz Riedl, a noted glassmaker active in the Jizera Mountains. This piece is often singled out as the most valuable item in the church — a direct link to the era when local glassmaking drove the region's economy.

Why is it worth a stop when exploring the Jizera Mountains?

The church in Polubný isn't a monumental landmark that draws crowds, but it's a good place to understand the local story: how a rural mountain parish and a thriving glass industry shaped this part of the Sudetes over the centuries. For anyone touring the area around Kořenov, or heading toward the mountain crossings into Poland, it's a natural stop that ties together settlement history and craft tradition.

Frequently asked questions

What is the full name of the church in Polubný? Its full name is the Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, sometimes shortened simply to "Church of St. John the Baptist."

When was the parish in Polubný founded? The parish was established in 1793, the same year the church was consecrated.

What is located next to the church? Beneath the church is a cemetery with graves dating from before 1945, plus two memorials to victims of World War II.

What's the most notable feature inside? The chandeliers, including the central one from 1842 made by Franz Riedl, a well-known Jizera Mountains glassmaker, alongside two smaller ones donated by local glass merchants.