Church of Saint Mary of Help

The Church of Our Lady Help "of the Star" in Železná Ruda, a Czech town right on the border with Germany, deep in the Bohemian Forest (Šumava, the Czech side of the Bavarian Forest), is a Baroque church that stands out among regional sacred buildings for its unusual, star-shaped layout. It stands on Klostermannovo náměstí, the town's main square, and still serves as the parish church of the Roman Catholic community of Železná Ruda.

Why is the church nicknamed "of the Star"?

The nickname is not decorative — the building was actually constructed on the ground plan of a six-pointed star, a layout rarely used for a church of this size. This unusual floor plan, most clearly visible from above or from outside the building, is what makes the church instantly recognizable and frequently mentioned as one of the more distinctive Baroque structures along the Czech-German border.

When was the church built, and who founded it?

The current church was built between 1729 and 1732 at the initiative of Wolf Jindřich Nothaft, Count of Wernberg, on the site of an earlier chapel that had stood there before. Decades later, in the 1770s, a smaller tower housing the entrance was added to the building, which somewhat altered its originally pure star-shaped silhouette.

What makes the church's architecture distinctive?

Beyond the ground plan itself, the roof is another notable feature — its complex construction, adapted to follow the star-shaped walls, was designed and built by the carpenter Matěj Lehner. The whole roof is covered in traditional wooden shingles, giving the building a distinctly regional, Šumava character. A prominent dome rises above the central part of the church and serves as the building's main visual landmark.

What is inside the church worth seeing?

The interior furnishings were commissioned by Johan Georg Hafenbrädl. The centerpiece is a Marian altarpiece featuring a painting considered to be one of only two known copies of "Madonna with Child" by Lucas Cranach, linking the church to one of the most important names in Reformation-era painting. Besides the main altar, the interior holds five side altars, a baptismal font carved from local Šumava granite, and a chandelier decorating the main nave.

Is the church still used for worship today?

Yes — despite a history spanning nearly three centuries, the church remains active and continues to function as the parish church for the Catholic community of Železná Ruda. Its location on the town's central square makes it a natural landmark for visitors passing through this town on the Czech Šumava tourist routes, right next to the border crossing into Bavaria.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? On Klostermannovo náměstí, the main square of Železná Ruda, in the Czech part of the Šumava (Bohemian Forest), close to the German border.

Why is the church called "of the Star"? Because its walls were built on the ground plan of a six-pointed star — an architectural solution rarely used for a church of this size.

When was the church built? Between 1729 and 1732, commissioned by Wolf Jindřich Nothaft, Count of Wernberg, on the site of an earlier chapel.

What does the painting in the main altar depict? It is one of only two known copies of the painting "Madonna with Child" by Lucas Cranach.

Is the church still functioning as a place of worship? Yes, it continues to operate as an active Roman Catholic parish church.