Church of Saint Maurice

The Church of Saint Maurice in Řevnice is a Baroque parish church from the mid-18th century, standing in the center of a small town on the Berounka river in the Central Bohemian Region, in the Prague-West District. A modest cemetery surrounds the building, which today serves as the parish church of the local Roman Catholic community.

How far back does the church history at this site go?

A church dedicated to Saint Maurice already stood in Řevnice in the mid-13th century — the first written record of it dates to 1253, when it functioned as a parish church belonging to the Tetín deanery. That makes this site one of the older centers of worship in this part of Bohemia, even though the building standing here today is much younger than the parish itself.

Why did Řevnice once have two churches?

Alongside the church of Saint Maurice, the town also had a second church, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Its origin is linked to a donation by King Wenceslaus II, who in 1292 granted Řevnice to the Cistercian monastery at Zbraslav — it was in connection with this event that the second church was consecrated. For several centuries the two buildings stood side by side, serving the same community.

What happened to the old churches in the 18th century?

By the mid-18th century, both older churches had fallen into such disrepair that in 1747 services had to be moved from the crumbling Saint Maurice church to the smaller Marian church. That arrangement was only temporary: two years later, in 1749, both old buildings were torn down, and construction of a new, single church began on the site immediately afterward.

When was the present church consecrated?

The new building went up remarkably fast by the standards of the period. Already on 12 November 1752, the completed church was consecrated by the Grand Master of the Order of the Crosiers with the Red Star, Julius František Vaha. From that point on, the building has carried the dedication to Saint Maurice and has served as the town's main church for more than two hundred and seventy years.

What architectural style does the church represent?

The Church of Saint Maurice is an example of Baroque architecture typical of mid-18th-century Bohemia — it was built as a single, unified structure planned from scratch, unlike many neighboring churches that grew out of centuries of rebuilding around older medieval cores. A small historic cemetery has survived around the church, forming an integral part of the sacred site.

When did the church regain parish status?

Although a living parish had existed in Řevnice since the Middle Ages, the church only formally regained the status of parish church in 1905. Before that, for a considerable period, the church in Řevnice was administered from other pastoral centers in the region.

Where exactly is the church located?

The Church of Saint Maurice stands in the town of Řevnice itself, a settlement of a few thousand residents on the Berounka river, roughly twenty kilometers southwest of central Prague. Its position at the heart of the town makes it a natural point of reference for anyone exploring the area.

Frequently asked questions

When was the current Church of Saint Maurice in Řevnice built? The present Baroque building was constructed between 1749 and 1752 and consecrated on 12 November 1752, although the history of a church on this site goes back to 1253.

Was there another church in Řevnice before? Yes, alongside the Church of Saint Maurice there was a second church, the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which stood until 1749 and had been consecrated following King Wenceslaus II's 1292 donation of Řevnice to the Zbraslav monastery.

Who consecrated today's church? It was consecrated by the Grand Master of the Order of the Crosiers with the Red Star, Julius František Vaha, on 12 November 1752.

Since when has the church served as a parish church? It formally regained that status in 1905, although a parish had already existed in Řevnice in the Middle Ages.

Where is Řevnice in relation to Prague? Řevnice lies on the Berounka river, about twenty kilometers southwest of central Prague, in the Prague-West District.