Church of Saints Peter and Paul (Dolany)

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul stands alone in the fields near Dolany, in the Plzeň-sever district, not far from the Berounka river. It's the kind of place travelers stumble upon rather than plan a trip around — which makes it worth knowing what to look for once you get there.

Where exactly is this church located?

The building sits on the site of a vanished medieval village called Dolany, in the farmland typical of the Plzeň region. In some location databases the site is listed under the neighboring settlement of Ptyč — a common quirk with old villages whose administrative boundaries shifted or dissolved along with the settlement itself over the centuries. The coordinates (49.9478 N, 13.6558 E) point clearly to the area around Dolany in the Plzeň-sever district, so visitors should head for Dolany rather than the center of Ptyč.

How old is this church?

Written records of a church at Dolany go back to the 14th century, with the earliest surviving mention dated to 1384. That means the site has been in continuous religious use for well over six centuries, even though the building standing today looks quite different from its medieval predecessor.

Why does the church look the way it does?

Between 1794 and 1799, the original medieval church was completely rebuilt in the late Baroque style. Parts of the older masonry survived the rebuild, though — visible in sections of the stonework that predate the Baroque campaign, likely Romanesque or early Gothic in origin. Local research suggests some of the stone elements may have come from other demolished sacred buildings in the area, possibly a chapel near Týnec or a church near Chudenice. Inside, the layout is a single nave, modest but not without character: the altar paintings and the Stations of the Cross were painted by the Prague-based artist Jan Herzog, active in the 19th century.

What can visitors actually see on site today?

The church stands on the grounds of an older cemetery dating back to the Romanesque period, which gives the whole site a quiet, somewhat archaic atmosphere — isolated fields on one side, the Berounka valley in the distance on the other. After being restored following 2000, it stopped being an abandoned ruin and became an active gathering place: pilgrimages, concerts, exhibitions, and weddings are held here. Between 2023 and 2024, EU-funded repairs replaced the roof frame and roofing and restored the façade, putting the building on solid footing for decades to come.

Is it worth the detour?

Yes, for anyone who appreciates atmosphere over crowds — open fields, a river in the background, and no ticket queues. It works well as a stop for people exploring the Plzeň-sever district by bike or car, combined with other sights in the wider Plzeň region.

Frequently asked questions

Is the church in Dolany open every day? It functions as a filial church and tends to open mainly for services, pilgrimages, and cultural events — check the local calendar before visiting.

Is this the same church sometimes listed under Ptyč? Yes. The name mismatch comes from administrative neighborliness and the history of the vanished village of Dolany; the geographic coordinates point unambiguously to Dolany in the Plzeň-sever district.

What's the most notable feature inside? The altar paintings and Stations of the Cross by Jan Herzog, a 19th-century Prague painter.

Are weddings held here? Yes — since its post-2000 restoration, the church has hosted weddings, concerts, and exhibitions alongside its regular religious use.