Church of Saint Martin in Holice

The Church of Saint Martin stands in the center of Holice, a small town in the Pardubice District of eastern Bohemia, Czech Republic. Listed as a cultural monument, the building still serves as an active parish church.

How do you get to the church in Holice?

Holice lies in eastern Bohemia, a short drive from Pardubice along the road toward Vysoké Mýto. The church sits right in the town center, and its tower — capped with a distinctive onion dome — is visible from most of the surrounding streets, making it easy to spot on foot. The exact coordinates are 50.0684633N, 15.9855672E. Trains and buses connect Holice with Pardubice in roughly half an hour, and the church is an easy walk from the town's main square.

What's the history behind the building?

The earliest written record of a church on this site dates back to 1349, when the building was still made of wood. Over the following centuries the wooden structure deteriorated badly, and by the turn of the 18th century local residents were petitioning the authorities in Pardubice — who governed Holice at the time — for a proper stone replacement. It took until the 1730s for those requests to bear fruit: the old wooden church was torn down, and a new stone church rose in its place between 1736 and 1739, the same building that stands today.

The original design came from architect Tomáš Haffenecker, but it was later reworked by Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, one of the leading names of Bohemian Baroque architecture, whose work left its mark on churches across Prague and eastern Bohemia. His revisions gave the church the form it has kept ever since.

What can you see inside and outside?

The church has a single nave and a tower topped by an onion-shaped dome, a shape typical of Central European Baroque churches. The ground floor of the tower houses a sacristy, while an oratory occupies the floor above it.

Inside, the standout piece is a bell named Martin, cast in 1499 — the only survivor of the church's original three bells and still hanging in the tower, meaning it predates the current stone building by more than two centuries. Another notable object is a pewter baptismal font from 1567. The original door locks have also survived, each stamped with its construction date — a small but rare craftsmanship detail from nearly three hundred years ago.

When is the best time to visit?

Because the church remains in regular parish use, visiting outside of service times is usually the easiest option. Holice also takes part in Noc kostelů (Night of Churches), the Czech nationwide open-night event when historic churches stay open late, often lit up, for visitors who wouldn't normally get inside. Outside that event, access depends on the parish's regular opening hours.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Church of Saint Martin in Holice? The site's first written mention dates from 1349, though the current stone building was constructed between 1736 and 1739, replacing an earlier wooden church.

Who designed the church? Tomáš Haffenecker created the original design, which was later modified by Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, one of the most important architects of Bohemian Baroque.

What's the most valuable object inside the church? The oldest piece is the bell named Martin, cast in 1499 — older than the current building itself. The pewter baptismal font from 1567 is also notable.

Is the church a protected monument? Yes, it is registered as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.