Church of Saint Lawrence (Náchod)

The Church of Saint Lawrence stands right in the heart of Náchod, on Masaryk Square, and has shaped the town's skyline for centuries with its two towers of unequal height. Locals call them Adam and Eve, and the pair has become an unofficial emblem of Náchod, visible from nearly every street nearby.

How do you get there?

The church sits directly on the town's main square, so finding it takes no planning at all — simply walk into central Náchod and the towers will already be visible from a distance. It works as a natural anchor point for exploring the old town, with the rest of the historic center reachable within a few minutes on foot.

What's the history behind it?

The building is generally dated to around 1310, though it is first explicitly recorded as a parish church in documents from 1355. One unusual detail sets it apart from most medieval churches in Bohemia: no cemetery was ever established around it. Burials instead took place at the older Church of St. John the Baptist in Staré Město, a district of Náchod on the other side of the river.

The church's history has been anything but calm. It burned down more than once, including during the capture of the town by Silesian forces in 1441 and again in the great fire that swept through Náchod in 1663. Each disaster forced rebuilding, which explains the mix of architectural styles visible in the structure today.

The period between 1570 and 1578 proved decisive for its current appearance, when the Italian builder Baltazar carried out a major reconstruction: he vaulted the nave, added a chancel resting on stone columns, and built a long oratory with steps leading directly from the square. It was this campaign that layered clear Renaissance features onto what had originally been a Gothic building.

What will you see inside?

Inside, the austere Gothic core meets the later Renaissance additions and subsequent Baroque touches. Notable features include the altar of Saint Anne by Gustav Vacek and an altar dedicated to the Virgin Mary, both central to the church's furnishings. The pulpit dates to 1791, and the Stations of the Cross were created by Břetislav Kafka, a Czech sculptor also known for work bridging art and spirituality.

When should you visit?

The church is best experienced as part of a walk across Masaryk Square, where the surrounding townhouses and cafés add to the atmosphere of the historic center. Morning hours offer the best light for photographing both towers, while afternoons are better suited to a slower, unhurried look around the square.

Frequently asked questions

Why are the towers called Adam and Eve? It's a local tradition tied to their differing height and appearance, which over time became the informal name by which the towers are known throughout the region.

Is there a cemetery next to the church? No. Unlike most medieval churches in Bohemia, no cemetery ever formed around the Church of Saint Lawrence — burials took place at the Church of St. John the Baptist in Staré Město instead.

What architectural style dominates the building? The church combines a Gothic core with a Renaissance reconstruction carried out between 1570 and 1578, plus later Baroque elements, visible both outside and inside.

What stands out most inside the church? The altar of Saint Anne by Gustav Vacek, the altar of the Virgin Mary, an 18th-century pulpit, and the Stations of the Cross by Břetislav Kafka.