Church of Saint Wenceslaus

The Church of Saint Wenceslaus in Radnice has shaped the skyline of this small town in the Rokycany district, in the Pilsen Region, for more than three hundred years. It stands on the site of a much older parish church, first recorded in 1384 — a Gothic building that gave the town its parish status long before Radnice took on the appearance it has today.

How old is the church really?

The site's history goes back to the late Middle Ages, but the original Gothic building didn't survive: it was destroyed by fire in 1698. What visitors see today on the hill at the centre of Radnice is therefore a younger structure — the current Baroque church, built in 1720 at the expense of Count Kazimír of Kupferwald. Two further major repairs, in 1842 and 1905, kept the building in good condition through the following centuries.

Who designed the present church?

The Baroque building was designed by Jakub Auguston, a Czech architect of Italian descent who worked extensively in the Pilsen region during the first half of the 18th century. His design gave the church its single-nave layout with a rectangular presbytery, side chapels and a sacristy. The three-bay west facade is topped by a tower, part of which is covered by a scrolled (volute) gable — a decorative touch typical of the Baroque period that still gives the otherwise solid building a sense of lightness.

What's worth seeing inside?

The church's main highlight is a life-size altar painting of Saint Wenceslaus, created by the academic painter Matěj Kuncl. It forms the visual centrepiece of the interior and directly honours the church's patron — the Czech duke and martyr who remains one of the most important national saints of Bohemia.

Can visitors go inside?

Outside of services, the interior can be viewed through a locked entrance grille, which lets visitors get a glimpse of the decoration without stepping inside. Anyone wanting a closer look should arrange a visit with the local parish in advance — a common arrangement for smaller town and village churches across the Czech Republic that aren't kept open to tourists around the clock.

Where exactly is it located?

The church stands in Radnice, a small town in the Rokycany district of the Pilsen Region in western Bohemia (coordinates: 49.8575 N, 13.6074 E). Radnice lies off the main tourist routes, so the church tends to draw people specifically interested in local history and the region's sacred architecture rather than large-scale tourism.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Church of Saint Wenceslaus in Radnice? The current Baroque building is over 300 years old, completed in 1720. The parish itself is far older, though — the first church on this site was recorded as early as 1384.

Why didn't the original church survive? The earlier Gothic church was destroyed by a fire in 1698, which led its patrons to commission a new Baroque building in the early 18th century.

Who designed the current church? It was designed by Jakub Auguston, a Czech architect of Italian origin known for his work throughout the Pilsen region.

What's the most valuable piece inside? A life-size altar painting of Saint Wenceslaus by Matěj Kuncl, which serves as the interior's central artwork.

Is it possible to visit the inside of the church? Yes, but it requires arranging access with the parish beforehand — outside of Mass times, the interior can only be seen through a locked entrance grille.