Church of Saint Vincent de Paul

Kostel svatého Vincence z Pauly (Church of Saint Vincent de Paul) is a Neo-Romanesque church in Liberec, in the Czech Republic's Liberec Region, built in the 1880s in a former workers' district known as Liebigovo Městečko. Its unplastered red-brick mass sets it apart from the region's typical sacred architecture and still catches the eye of anyone walking through Liberec IV – Perštýn.

Where is it located?

The church stands on U Jánského kamene street in the Liberec IV – Perštýn district, within a former workers' settlement founded by the Liebig family, local textile factory owners. It's a quiet corner of the city, only a short walk from Liberec's center, making it easy to combine a visit with a stroll through the surrounding historic industrial architecture.

Who built it, and why?

The church was funded by Baroness Marie Pavlína Liebigová, an heiress of the textile-industrialist family, who financed its construction for the Lazarist order. The cornerstone was laid on 31 August 1884, and construction continued until 1887. The design came from the Vienna studio of architects Richard Jordan and Josef Schmalzhofer, while on-site construction was overseen by local builder F. Schloz. The church was consecrated on 8 September 1888 by Litoměřice Bishop Johann Schöbel.

What does the architecture look like?

The building draws on Rhine Valley Romanesque architecture, giving it a raw, brick-dominated facade decorated with ornamental cornices and sandstone columns imported all the way from Pirna, Germany. It was designed as a three-aisle basilica with a transept, topped by a central cupola above the crossing, while the presbytery ends in a polygonal apse. This mix of exposed brick and pale sandstone makes the church stand out even among Liberec's other churches, earning it the local nickname "Red Towers."

What happened to it after the Second World War?

Following the expulsion of the region's German-speaking population and the political shifts in postwar Czechoslovakia, the church fell into decades of decline and lost its original congregation. It was ultimately saved by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which purchased the building in 1972 and adapted its interior to its own liturgical needs, rescuing it from further deterioration. The congregation still uses it for worship today, with contact maintained at U Jánského kamene 576/3.

Is it a protected monument?

Since 2003, the church has been listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, confirming its architectural and historical value as an example of turn-of-the-century Neo-Romanesque sacred architecture in the Liberec area.

Frequently asked questions

Who funded the construction of the church? Baroness Marie Pavlína Liebigová, a member of the local textile-industrialist family, who financed it for the Lazarist order.

In what style was the church built? Neo-Romanesque, inspired by Rhine Valley architecture, distinguished by exposed red brick and sandstone details brought from Pirna, Germany.

Who uses the church today? Since 1972 it has belonged to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which saved it from ruin and still uses it for worship services.

Is the church legally protected? Yes, it has been listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic since 2003.