Church of Saint Nicholas in Stolany

The Church of Saint Nicholas in the small village of Stolany, in the Czech Republic's Pardubice region, is a Gothic church dating back to the 14th century. It stands out for its unusual tower topped with a stone spire and battlements, located a few kilometers from the town of Chrudim at coordinates 49.927162, 15.746185. Although it now functions as a branch church rather than a full parish seat, its architecture and carved details make it worth a stop for anyone exploring the area.

What does the church look like from the outside?

The tower is the building's most distinctive feature. Instead of a typical pitched roof, it is crowned with a stone spire finished with battlements, giving it an almost fortress-like silhouette rarely seen on rural churches in the region. At each corner of the tower sits a stone gargoyle carved as a fantastical creature, originally serving to channel rainwater away from the walls. The main body of the church is a single-nave structure with a wide presbytery closed on three sides, and a sacristy attached on the north side. This layout — plain nave, polygonal chancel, side sacristy — is common among Gothic village churches in the region, but the tower's fortified shape sets Stolany apart from its neighbors.

In 2024, the church underwent renovation of its roof and facade, so the exterior is currently in good condition.

What can visitors see inside?

The interior is dominated by Baroque furnishings, most of them dating from around 1700 — considerably younger than the Gothic shell of the building itself. This gap between a medieval structure and a later Baroque interior is typical of Czech village churches, which were gradually refurbished over the centuries as tastes and available funds changed.

In the vestibule stands a medieval stone baptismal font, one of the oldest surviving furnishings in the church. Nearby, a tombstone dated 1549 is set into the floor, offering a rare physical link to the parish's pre-Baroque history.

What is the history behind Stolany and its church?

Stolany is one of the oldest villages near Chrudim, lying roughly 5 km to the southwest of the town. The first written mention of the village dates to 1229, when the Bohemian king Přemysl Otakar I granted it to the Benedictine monastery in Opatovice nad Labem. The church itself was built later, in the 14th century, to serve the local farming community.

Today, the Church of Saint Nicholas operates as a branch church within a parish belonging to the deanery of Heřmanův Městec. That means it has no resident priest of its own, and services are held only occasionally, in coordination with neighboring parishes.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Church of Saint Nicholas in Stolany? Its Gothic core dates from the 14th century, while most of the interior furnishings are Baroque, added around 1700.

What makes the church's architecture unusual? Its tower, topped with a stone spire and battlements, and decorated at each corner with a stone gargoyle carved as a monster-like figure.

Is the church regularly open for services? It is a branch church of the deanery of Heřmanův Městec, so services are held occasionally rather than on a fixed weekly schedule as in a resident parish church.

How old is the village of Stolany itself? The village was first mentioned in 1229, when King Přemysl Otakar I donated it to the Benedictine monastery in Opatovice nad Labem.