Church of Saint Wenceslaus

The Church of Saint Wenceslaus stands in Nové Veselí, a small market town in the Žďár nad Sázavou District of the Vysočina Region in eastern Czech Republic. This Baroque building anchors the village center and is one of the few local landmarks that has survived largely unchanged since the eighteenth century.

How old is this church?

Devotion to Saint Wenceslaus in Nové Veselí predates the current building by centuries. The earliest recorded church under this dedication dates to 1393, when a Gothic structure stood on the site now occupied by the village's old cemetery. That original church served the community for several hundred years before being replaced.

Where did today's Baroque church come from?

The turning point came in the early eighteenth century. In 1709, the Nové Veselí estate passed into the hands of the Cistercian monastery at Žďár nad Sázavou. Abbot Bernard Hennet, dissatisfied with the condition of the old Gothic church, decided to commission a new one. The cornerstone was consecrated in 1751, with construction likely beginning the following year. The church was completed and consecrated in 1757 — the same Baroque building that stands in Nové Veselí today.

What happened to the church tower?

The tower has had an eventful history. It originally rose to 68 meters, making it a landmark visible from a considerable distance. In 1831, a fire seriously damaged the structure, and the tower was rebuilt at a reduced height — one-third shorter than its original form. Even after this change, the church still rises clearly above the surrounding buildings of Nové Veselí.

What details are worth looking for around the church?

To the left of the main entrance stands a stone cross roughly seven meters tall, carved from a single block of stone — an impressive piece of stonemasonry that catches the eye from a distance. At the side entrance, a statue of Saint Wenceslaus by Czech sculptor Julius Pelikán (1887–1969) marks a much later addition to the site; it was unveiled in 1965, more than two centuries after the church itself was completed.

Who should visit?

The Church of Saint Wenceslaus appeals mainly to travelers exploring the smaller towns of the Vysočina Region and looking for genuine Baroque religious architecture away from the main tourist routes. It also rewards visitors interested in church history and sculpture: the centuries-old stone cross alongside Pelikán's twentieth-century statue shows how the site has evolved over time while keeping the same dedication throughout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is the church located? In Nové Veselí, a town in the Žďár nad Sázavou District of the Vysočina Region, in eastern Czech Republic.

What architectural style is the church? It is a Baroque building, constructed between 1751 and 1757 on the site of an earlier Gothic church dating from the fourteenth century.

Why is the tower shorter than it originally was? A fire in 1831 damaged the tower badly enough that, during reconstruction, it was rebuilt one-third shorter than its original 68-meter height.

What can be seen near the church's entrances? A roughly seven-meter stone cross carved from a single block stands by the main entrance, while a 1965 statue of Saint Wenceslaus by sculptor Julius Pelikán stands at the side entrance.