Church of Saint Nicholas

The Church of Saint Nicholas is a Gothic-origin church standing in the village of Šitboř, part of the town of Poběžovice in the Domažlice District of the Plzeň Region. It ranks among the oldest sacred buildings in this part of Bohemia, and its turbulent story — from a medieval founding to an ongoing modern restoration — makes it a worthwhile stop for anyone exploring the Czech-Bavarian borderland.

How to get there?

Šitboř lies in the Domažlicko area, close to Poběžovice, a small town in the Domažlice District. The easiest approach is by car from Domažlice or Klenčí pod Čerchovem, following a local road through the wooded, scenic landscape of the Český les (Bohemian Forest). The village itself is small, and the church stands as a landmark within it, visible from a distance thanks to its raised position.

A history reaching back to the Middle Ages

The Pivoň Monastery is credited as the founder of the church, and the earliest written record of the building dates to 1359. Archaeologists, however, believe its origins may go back as far as the mid-13th century, which would make it one of the oldest sacred buildings in the Plzeň Region. During the 14th century, the church was rebuilt and its nave extended to serve the needs of a growing parish.

Another significant change to its appearance came at the beginning of the 18th century, when a tower was added, topped with a distinctive onion dome and lantern — a form similar to the one seen on the monastery church in Pivoň. This Baroque addition gave the building the silhouette typical of many rural churches in the region and remained its defining feature for centuries.

Decades of neglect and a modern restoration

The church's fortunes took a sharp turn for the worse after World War II, when its upkeep was abandoned. At the time, it had only a wooden shingle roof, which deteriorated quickly without regular repairs. The consequences of this neglect were serious: in 1979, the roof of the nave collapsed, and the tower's dome had to be removed for safety reasons. Over the following decades, the building continued to decay, becoming emblematic of the fate of many historic sites in the former border regions of Czechoslovakia.

Despite this damage, the church has been protected as a cultural monument since 1964, a status that eventually made rescue efforts possible. Restoration work began in 2016, after decades of progressive deterioration, aiming to bring the building back closer to its historic form. The church formally belongs to the town of Poběžovice, which oversees the ongoing conservation process.

What to know before visiting

The Church of Saint Nicholas is of particular interest to visitors drawn to sacred architecture and to the history of the Czech-German borderland, an area where many buildings fell into neglect for decades following postwar population transfers and administrative changes. Because restoration is still underway, access to the interior or to certain parts of the structure may be limited, so it is worth checking current information with local authorities or the parish in Poběžovice before visiting. The surrounding Český les forest also makes the area well suited to combining a visit to the church with a hike or cycling trip through the region.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Church of Saint Nicholas located? In the village of Šitboř, part of the town of Poběžovice in the Domažlice District of the Plzeň Region.

Who founded the church? The Pivoň Monastery is credited as its founder; the earliest written record dates to 1359, though its origins may reach back to the mid-13th century.

Why did the church fall into ruin? After World War II its maintenance was neglected, leading to the collapse of the nave roof in 1979 and the removal of the tower's dome.

Is the church being restored today? Yes — restoration work has been underway since 2016, and the building has been a protected cultural monument owned by the town of Poběžovice since 1964.