Church of Saint Mary Magdalene

The Church of Saint Mary Magdalene is a Gothic, single-nave church in Kunice, a small village in the Praha-východ District of the Central Bohemian Region, roughly a dozen kilometres southeast of Prague. The building is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic and ranks among the oldest traces of sacred settlement in this part of the country.

How to get there?

Kunice lies in the Praha-východ District, an area dotted with small villages surrounding the capital from the east. The church stands in the centre of the village and is easiest to reach by car, with the drive from Prague typically taking around half an hour. The surroundings work well for a day trip combining regional church architecture with the quiet countryside of Central Bohemia.

How old is this church?

According to a local chronicle and an inscription found inside the building, the very first structure on this site was a wooden chapel, said to have been built as early as 970 during the reign of Duke Boleslaus II. In the 13th century a Romanesque church replaced the chapel, and at the start of the 14th century it underwent an early Gothic rebuilding — it is from this period that the church derives its present Gothic character. Repairs followed in 1680 and 1728, and in 1793 a new tower topped with a Baroque onion dome was added, giving the church the distinctive silhouette it still has today.

What will you see inside?

The church has a single-nave, rectangular main body, a rectangular sacristy, and a square presbytery covered by a cross-ribbed vault resting on pyramid-shaped corbels. The vault's keystone is carved with a relief of Christ's head, one of the most valuable architectural details in the entire building. The interior received a new altar in 1821, and further repairs took place in 1850 and 1867. In 1884, cracks in the walls forced the vault to be reinforced with iron ties, a sign of the centuries-long struggle to keep the structure sound. A comprehensive restoration was carried out between 1947 and 1949.

A turbulent parish history

The church originally served as a parish church. During the Hussite Wars it was served by non-Catholic priests, who were expelled in 1621; a shortage of Catholic clergy afterward, however, left the parish empty for a long stretch, with no Mass held there. Over time the Kunice church was attached first to the parish of Uhříněves, then to Říčany, and in 1789 to Velké Popovice. Today it once again falls under the Říčany parish, and Mass is held here once a month — keeping the church a living, if modest, place of worship rather than a purely museum-like monument.

When to visit?

Because services are held so rarely, the best time to see the interior is on the day of the monthly Mass, which is worth confirming in advance with the Říčany parish. The village and the church's surroundings, however, are accessible year-round, with spring and summer offering the most comfortable conditions for longer walks in the area. In autumn and winter the church is equally picturesque against the quiet, rural landscape of Central Bohemia.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene in Kunice? According to a chronicle and an inscription inside the building, the first chapel on this site dates back to 970, during the reign of Duke Boleslaus II, while the church acquired its current Gothic form at the start of the 14th century.

What is the most valuable detail inside? The keystone of the presbytery's cross-ribbed vault, carved with a relief of Christ's head and set on pyramid-shaped corbels.

Is the church still used for religious services? Yes, though irregularly — it belongs to the Říčany parish, and Mass is celebrated there once a month.

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