Church of Saint Martin in Klenčí pod Čerchovem

The Church of Saint Martin is a Baroque parish church standing at the heart of the small town of Klenčí pod Čerchovem, in the Domažlice district of the Plzeň Region, Czech Republic. Topped by a massive tower with an onion-shaped dome, the building has served as the town's main place of worship for nearly three centuries.

What is the history behind the church?

A church on this site is first documented as early as 1481, making it the oldest known reference to a place of worship in Klenčí. That original building did not survive: it was demolished in 1743 because it no longer met the needs of the growing parish. A new, considerably grander church was raised in its place and completed in 1746. Its construction was carried out under the patronage of the Stadion family, specifically Philip Stadion, who owned the local estate. The result is the church still standing today — Baroque in its overall shape, though its interior decoration was added later.

What does the church's architecture look like?

The building follows a rectangular floor plan, with the presbytery closed off by walls with rounded corners and a sacristy attached on the north side. It is a single-nave church, and the interior feels spacious and well lit, with the nave itself measuring 20.30 by 12.04 metres. A mirror vault stretches above the nave, decorated with paintings by the artist Jelínek dating from 1925 — these give the interior much of its current decorative character, complemented by extensive stucco work. From the outside, the most recognisable feature is the tower: a prismatic structure, partly projecting from the façade, capped with an onion dome that can be seen rising above the rooftops of Klenčí from a distance.

What can visitors find inside and beneath the church?

Beneath the presbytery lies a burial vault containing members of two families tied to this land — the Stadions and the Lamingens, known locally by the nickname "Lomikar." Philip Stadion, who funded the present church, and his descendants remain permanently linked to the building they endowed. Inside the church stands a Baroque organ dating from 1758, built by organ maker Antonín Gartner — an instrument considerably older than the painted vault decorations above it.

Why is the Church of Saint Martin worth a visit?

The church brings together several layers of history in one building: a mid-18th-century Baroque structure, early 20th-century vault paintings, and an 18th-century organ, alongside the burial vault of the founding family. For anyone exploring the Chodsko region and the area around Mount Čerchov, it is one of the places where the region's sacred architecture appears in its full Baroque form, with the history of local noble families clearly on display.

Frequently asked questions

When was the current Church of Saint Martin built? The present building was completed in 1746, after an earlier church on the same site was demolished in 1743. Worship at this location, however, is documented as far back as 1481.

Who funded today's church? Construction was funded under the patronage of Philip Stadion, whose family remains closely associated with the site.

What architectural style does the church represent? It is a single-nave Baroque church, with a tower topped by an onion dome, a rounded presbytery, and a mirror vault ceiling.

What is inside the crypt beneath the church? The burial vault holds the remains of members of the Stadion and Lamingen families, the latter known locally as "Lomikar."

Who built the church's organ? The Baroque organ, dating from 1758, was built by organ maker Antonín Gartner.