Church of Saint Nicholas

St. Nicholas Church is a neo-Gothic parish church in the village of Vacov, in the Prachatice District of the South Bohemian Region. The building visitors see today dates from the late 19th century, but the site has served a religious purpose since the Middle Ages, making it a worthwhile stop for anyone touring the foothills of the Šumava mountains.

Where is Vacov, and how do you get to the church?

Vacov is a small village in the Prachatice District of South Bohemia, sitting at the northern edge of the Šumava range. The church stands in the middle of the village, its tall tower visible from a distance, making it a natural landmark for travelers passing through. The surrounding countryside is known for rolling hills, forests, and hiking and cycling routes heading toward the Šumava mountains, so a stop in Vacov pairs easily with a longer day of exploring the region.

How far back does the church's history go?

Although the current building is just over a century old, the site's religious history reaches much further back. The earliest written mention of a hermitage chapel here dates to 1193, and tradition holds that a wooden church was built on the spot as early as 1230. That early structure did not survive the turbulent Hussite Wars: it was burned down and destroyed in 1421.

After 1588, when Vacov passed into the hands of the Koc family of Dobrš, records already describe a stone church dedicated to St. Lawrence standing here. That building also fell victim to fire, in 1757, and repairs dragged on for the next three decades. In 1706, an organ built by Václav Turnovský, an organ maker from Horažďovice, was installed in the older church; it was not replaced until 1861, when an unknown organ builder supplied a new instrument for 510 gold coins.

When was today's church built?

The church visitors see today is the result of a rebuilding carried out between 1888 and 1890, designed by architect Jan Sedláček in a pseudo-Gothic (neo-Gothic) style. The new building replaced an older church that had featured a semicircular apse, a tower on its western corner, and a spacious gallery. The new church was consecrated on August 10, 1890, by Bishop Martin Josef Říha of the Diocese of České Budějovice.

What is worth seeing at the church?

Between 2018 and 2020, the church's windows were replaced with stained glass depicting Czech regional patron saints — a relatively recent addition worth a close look, blending the building's traditional architecture with contemporary stained-glass craftsmanship. To the east of the church stands a Baroque niche chapel dedicated to St. John of Nepomuk, dating from the 18th century, a small but distinctive feature of the village's religious landscape.

Is the church still in use today?

Yes, St. Nicholas Church remains the active parish church of Vacov, so visitors may find it open for Mass and services according to the local parish schedule.

Frequently asked questions

How old is St. Nicholas Church in Vacov? The current building was constructed between 1888 and 1890, but the site's religious history goes back to the 13th century — the first mention of a chapel here dates to 1193.

What architectural style is the current church built in? It was built in the pseudo-Gothic (neo-Gothic) style, designed by architect Jan Sedláček.

What happened to the earlier churches on this site? A wooden church burned down during the Hussite Wars in 1421, and a later stone church dedicated to St. Lawrence was destroyed by fire in 1757.

What else can visitors see near the church? East of the church stands an 18th-century Baroque niche chapel of St. John of Nepomuk, and the church interior gained new stained-glass windows depicting Czech regional patron saints between 2018 and 2020.