Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Bohnice

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Bohnice stands on Bohnická street in Prague's Bohnice district (Prague 8) and ranks among the oldest Christian churches in the Czech lands. Its present building dates from the early 19th century, but the site's story reaches back to the mid-12th century, making it a witness to nearly nine hundred years of local history.

Who founded the church, and when?

The church was founded by Gervasius, provost of Vyšehrad, and was consecrated to St. Peter on 30 May 1158. The ceremony was led by Bishop Daniel of Prague and attended by King Vladislav I himself, together with his wife, Queen Judith. Having a reigning king and queen present at the consecration of what was then a small rural church shows how significant Bohnice was within the network of ecclesiastical foundations around medieval Prague.

How do we know so much about its early history?

The evidence comes from a surviving parchment foundation charter, known as an authentica, drawn up in 1158 itself. It resurfaced under unusual circumstances: at the end of the 18th century, workers dismantling the old altar discovered a lead chest inside, and the document had survived intact for centuries within it. It counts among the oldest written records of an ecclesiastical foundation in the wider Prague area.

How has the building's architecture changed over time?

The original 12th-century church was Romanesque, typical of the earliest stone churches built in Bohemia. That structure stood for several centuries until 1805, when it was rebuilt completely from the ground up. The result is the church seen today: a Baroque building laid out on a Greek-cross plan, with four arms of equal length radiating from a central point. A 40-metre-high bell tower rises above the west facade, visible from many parts of the surrounding neighborhood and now one of the district's recognizable landmarks.

What role does the church play today?

The church still functions as the parish church of the Roman Catholic parish of Bohnice, serving this part of Prague 8. Although the district is now known mainly for its post-war housing estates, the church is a reminder that Old Bohnice existed as a settlement long before the modern city grew up around it, stretching back to the medieval period.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Bohnice built? Its foundation is dated to the 12th century, and it was consecrated to St. Peter on 30 May 1158.

Who founded the church? It was founded by Gervasius, provost of Vyšehrad, and consecrated by Bishop Daniel of Prague in the presence of King Vladislav I and Queen Judith.

What architectural style is the current building? The present church is Baroque, built after the 1805 reconstruction on a Greek-cross plan. The original medieval building had been Romanesque.

How tall is the church tower? The tower on the west facade rises to about 40 metres.

Where exactly is the church located? It stands on Bohnická street in Prague's Bohnice district (Prague 8).