Church of Saint Martin

The Church of Saint Martin stands in the middle of the village of Zibohlavy, a short distance from Kolín, and although it is administratively part of the Roman Catholic Parish of Kolín, the building itself sits well outside the city, on a quiet plot in the countryside. It is a small subsidiary church that has survived centuries of war, fire and rebuilding, keeping only its medieval tower as a physical link to its earliest history.

How do you get there?

Zibohlavy lies along a route connecting Kolín with nearby villages of Central Bohemia, so the most convenient way to reach it is by car or bicycle — it takes only about ten to fifteen minutes from the center of Kolín. The church stands right in the middle of the village, so it is hard to miss: a rectangular stone structure with a tall tower rises above the low surrounding houses and is visible from a distance. Travelers without a car usually treat Kolín itself as their base and add Zibohlavy as a short side trip into the surrounding area.

What will you see?

The current building dates from 1873 and was constructed in the Neo-Romanesque style, the result of a rebuilding effort following a string of misfortunes that befell the original church. Of the earlier Romanesque structure from the 13th century, only the tower in front of the western facade has survived; the rest of the church was rebuilt from scratch in the 19th century. The floor plan is cruciform, with a semicircular apse on the eastern wall and a single nave, giving the interior a modest but coherent character typical of rural churches in this part of Bohemia.

Inside, it is worth noting the furnishings from the 1880s, including the main altar and pulpit carved by Jan Mořic Černý of Kutná Hora. Although relatively young by church standards, these pieces represent solid craftsmanship typical of the 19th-century restoration of Czech village churches after earlier centuries of destruction.

What is the history behind it?

The church's story begins in the 13th century, when the original Romanesque building was constructed. It was first recorded as a parish church in 1358. The site did not escape hardship: in 1624 the church burned down, and it was rebuilt three years later. Not long after, in 1639, during the Thirty Years' War, Swedish troops thoroughly plundered the church — an episode that fits into the broader pattern of destruction Central Bohemia suffered during that period of religious and political conflict.

Following these events the church continued to function in a diminished form, until 1873, when the present Neo-Romanesque building was erected, preserving only the old tower as a link to the church's original medieval phase. Today the building is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, confirming its historical and architectural value despite its modest size.

When should you visit?

The church now serves as a subsidiary church of the Kolín parish, with services held only on the second and fourth Saturday of each month at 2:30 PM. That is a useful detail for anyone hoping to see the interior during a mass — on other days the building tends to be closed, so it is worth checking accessibility in advance if you want to step inside rather than just admire it from the outside. The village itself, with its modest cluster of houses around the church, is well suited to a quiet walk and photographs of rural church architecture away from the usual tourist crowds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the church in Zibohlavy the same as the famous church in central Kolín? No. Central Kolín is home to the much larger and better-known Church of Saint Bartholomew. The Church of Saint Martin stands in the separate village of Zibohlavy, which falls administratively under the Kolín parish but is physically distant from the city center.

What remains from the original medieval building? Only the tower in front of the western facade dates back to the earlier Romanesque church — the rest of the structure was rebuilt in 1873 in the Neo-Romanesque style.

Can you visit the church every day? Services take place only on the second and fourth Saturday of the month at 2:30 PM, so access to the interior outside these times may be limited.

Who created the interior furnishings? The main altar and pulpit were carved by Jan Mořic Černý of Kutná Hora in the 1880s, as part of refurbishing the interior after the church was rebuilt.