Church of St. John the Baptist in Slavoňov

The Church of St. John the Baptist is a wooden church standing on a raised spot in the middle of the village cemetery in Slavoňov, in the Náchod District of the Hradec Králové Region in eastern Czechia. Together with a wooden mortuary, a fortification-style bell tower, and a boundary wall, it forms an exceptionally well-preserved ensemble of wooden folk architecture, recognized as a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

How old is this church?

The first, Gothic church on this site was already recorded in 1350, but that wooden building was most likely destroyed during the Hussite Wars. The current church was built in 1553, with construction carried out by the carpenter Jan Kotlačka and his son Jan of Blažkov. That makes Slavoňov's church one of the oldest surviving wooden churches of its kind in Czechia.

Why is it dedicated to St. John the Baptist if it wasn't originally?

The church was originally consecrated to St. Martin. The dedication changed in 1683, during the recatholicization of the region, at the initiative of the dean of Dobruška, Jiří Sidurga. It was at that point that the church took on the dedication to St. John the Baptist it still carries today.

How did the building and its interior change over the centuries?

In 1705, the church underwent repairs during which a western vestibule and a gallery were added. Among the most valuable features of the interior is a coffered ceiling, where each coffer bears a different, original floral motif — the colorful painted decoration dates from that same 1705 renovation. The main altar, with a painting depicting St. John the Baptist, was installed in 1683, alongside the change of dedication. The side altars, one dedicated to the Virgin Mary and another depicting the Tomb of Christ, date from 1832. The church's structure itself combines three types of wood: an oak foundation, spruce walls, and a pine roof frame.

What protected status does this monument complex have?

In spring 2014, the entire church complex in Slavoňov — including the bell tower and wooden mortuary — was added to the list of national cultural monuments of the Czech Republic, the country's highest level of heritage protection. That status reflects the ensemble's significance as a rare, intact example of wooden folk architecture in the Kladské pomezí region.

Where is Slavoňov, and how do you get to the church?

Slavoňov is a small village roughly 4 kilometers from Nové Město nad Metují, in the Kladské pomezí border region near Poland. The church stands on elevated ground at the center of the village cemetery, making it visible as a landmark from some distance away. A visit combines easily with a trip to Nové Město nad Metují and other historic churches in the surrounding region.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Church of St. John the Baptist in Slavoňov located? In the village of Slavoňov, Náchod District, Hradec Králové Region, about 4 km from Nové Město nad Metují.

When was the current church built? In 1553, by the carpenter Jan Kotlačka and his son Jan of Blažkov, on the site of an older Gothic church first mentioned in 1350.

Why did the dedication change from St. Martin to St. John the Baptist? The change took place in 1683, during the region's recatholicization, at the initiative of the dean of Dobruška, Jiří Sidurga.

What is the church built from? Three types of wood: an oak foundation, spruce walls, and a pine roof frame.

Is the church legally protected? Yes, since spring 2014 the whole complex — church, bell tower, and mortuary — has held the status of a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic.