Church of Saint Margaret

Church of Saint Margaret is the oldest preserved architectural monument in Golčův Jeníkov, a small town in the Vysočina Region of eastern Czechia. The building stands within the grounds of the local cemetery and has long served as a funeral chapel.

How old is the church?

The exact date of construction is unknown, but historians place its origins in the late 13th century, built in an early Gothic style. The first written mentions of the building date from the early 14th century, making it one of the oldest sacred structures in the wider Havlíčkův Brod area.

From the Hussite era until 1627 the church belonged to the Utraquists, followers of communion under both kinds and one of the main branches of the Hussite movement in Bohemia. A parish was established at the church in 1650, although pastoral care was usually provided by priests from the neighbouring parish of Vilémov and by Jesuits from their local residence.

What happened to the original building?

By around 1800 the church was recorded as abandoned. In 1821, as the adjoining cemetery was being expanded, the original structure was largely demolished and a new church was built on the site. The building was rebuilt again in 1905, giving it the appearance it has kept ever since.

What can visitors see?

The church is a modest stone structure with a square presbytery and a rectangular nave. Its northern wall still bears a Gothic portal, the only element to survive from the original medieval building — a detail that draws particular attention from visitors interested in the region's history.

Inside the nave is an unusual relic: the skeletal remains of a bowhead whale. According to local accounts, General Goltz brought the bones back as war spoils from the port of Stralsund on the North Sea. They are the oldest preserved remains of a large cetacean found anywhere in Czechia, making the church a genuinely unusual stop among the country's historic sites.

How to get there and when to visit?

Golčův Jeníkov lies about 25 km north of Havlíčkův Brod and 12 km southeast of Čáslav, both within easy driving distance. As part of the cemetery complex, the church exterior can be viewed year-round, while the interior is mainly used for funeral ceremonies, so it is worth checking access beforehand.

Anyone touring the wider Vysočina Region can easily combine a stop at the church with a short walk through Golčův Jeníkov itself, since the monument sits right next to the town centre.

Frequently asked questions

Does the church still hold regular services? Today the building mainly serves as a venue for funeral ceremonies rather than functioning as an active parish church in the traditional sense.

What is the oldest surviving part of the building? The Gothic portal on the northern wall — the only fragment that survived from the original medieval church before its 1821 reconstruction.

Why are there whale remains inside the church? They are said to have been brought back by General Goltz as war spoils from the port of Stralsund; they are the oldest known remains of a large cetacean in Czechia.

Is it worth combining a visit with sightseeing in Golčův Jeníkov? Yes — the church stands right next to the town centre, making it easy to combine a short walk through the cemetery with the rest of the town's sights.