Church of Saint Joseph (Vlčkovice v Podkrkonoší)

The Church of St. Joseph in Horní Vlčkovice — the eastern part of the village of Vlčkovice v Podkrkonoší in the Trutnov district, Hradec Králové Region — is the most recognizable building in this small settlement at the foot of the Krkonoše (Giant) Mountains. The church stands on the site of an earlier Baroque chapel of the Virgin Mary from 1703 and today serves as the parish church of the Roman Catholic parish of Vlčkovice v Podkrkonoší.

How did the church come to be built?

The present, late-Classicist church was built between 1849 and 1850. The initiative behind it, however, goes back further: in 1839 Josef Nimbsche, the village headman of Horní Vlčkovice at the time, donated 1,000 guldens toward renovating the older Baroque chapel that stood on the site. That gift eventually made it possible, a decade or so later, to replace the chapel with a considerably larger masonry church, one that still towers over the village today.

What can visitors see inside?

The interior holds three altars dating from 1851, completed shortly after the building itself. The main altar carries a painting of St. Joseph with the infant Jesus, honoring the church's patron saint. To the right stands a side altar depicting the Holy Trinity, and to the left one dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. Because all three altarpieces were created around the same time, the interior reads as a coherent, mid-19th-century ensemble.

Where exactly is the church located?

The church stands in Horní Vlčkovice, the eastern part of the municipality of Vlčkovice v Podkrkonoší, in the Trutnov district of the Hradec Králové Region, within the Podkrkonoší area at the foot of the Krkonoše range. It's a quiet stretch of countryside typical of the Krkonoše foothills, with scattered farmhouses and the mountains visible on the horizon. The church's tower and body can be seen from much of the village, making it a natural landmark for anyone passing through.

Why is it worth a stop?

Beyond its role as a place of worship, the Church of St. Joseph is a small piece of local history — from the Baroque chapel funded in 1703, through one villager's personal contribution toward its rebuilding, to the late-Classicist church that stands here now. For travelers exploring the Podkrkonoší region, it's a stop that shows how a modest rural parish shaped its own identity over the course of several centuries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Church of St. Joseph located? In Horní Vlčkovice, part of the village of Vlčkovice v Podkrkonoší, in the Trutnov district, Hradec Králové Region, Czech Republic.

When was the current church built? Between 1849 and 1850, on the site of an earlier Baroque chapel of the Virgin Mary from 1703.

Which saint is the church dedicated to? St. Joseph — his image with the infant Jesus appears on the main altar.

Does the church still function as a parish church? Yes, it serves as the parish church of the Roman Catholic parish of Vlčkovice v Podkrkonoší.