Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Říčany, Prague-East District

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul sits right in the middle of Říčany, on Masaryk Square, a short drive east of Prague. From the outside it looks like a modest Baroque parish church, but underneath that facade it hides traces of a Gothic building several centuries older — a contrast that makes it worth a stop for anyone exploring the Prague-East district.

How old is the church really?

The first building on this spot was Gothic, likely dating from the second half of the 13th century. It didn't survive unchanged: the church suffered heavy damage during the Thirty Years' War, and much of the original structure was lost. A Baroque rebuilding followed in 1719, while the western part of the nave and the facade tower only reached their current form around 1900. Despite these later changes, the building never fully broke with its past — the ground floor of the south tower still preserves a Gothic vault and fragments of frescoes.

What does the exterior look like?

The church has a single nave, a prism-shaped tower built into the facade, a square chapel on the south side, and a rectangular presbytery. On the tower, clearly visible from the square below, stand statues of the two patron saints, Peter and Paul. These figures aren't original to the Baroque rebuild, though — they were only added in 1887, funded by a local resident, Marie Pachmajerová.

What's worth seeing inside?

Inside, the church keeps a calm Baroque rhythm: pilasters with Ionic capitals line the nave walls and carry a running cornice. The nave itself is covered by a barrel vault, while the presbytery has an older rib vault — a direct leftover from the Gothic building phase. The furnishings include a late-Baroque main altar and a pulpit dated 1725. Look out too for a relief depicting Adam and Eve, made in the late 18th century.

The oldest surviving decoration, though, is a set of 13th-century Gothic frescoes preserved in the side chapel, itself a remnant of the original church. They depict the four evangelists and are a rare local example of wall painting predating the Baroque rebuild.

Are there any old tombstones inside?

Yes — the remains of the old tower still hold two red marble tombstone slabs dated to the late 16th century (1592 and 1599), carved with coats of arms featuring a hand motif. It's a small but tangible reminder of who the church served long before its Baroque makeover.

Is the church a protected monument?

Yes, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Říčany is listed as a protected cultural monument. Because it combines surviving Gothic fabric with a later Baroque rebuild, it's considered one of the more significant sacred buildings in the Prague-East district.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? On Masaryk Square in the center of Říčany, a town in the Prague-East district, a short distance from the Czech capital.

Is the building Gothic or Baroque? Both — the original 13th-century Gothic church was heavily rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1719, while Gothic remnants (a vault, frescoes) survive in the south tower and the side chapel.

What's the most valuable feature inside? The 13th-century Gothic frescoes depicting the four evangelists, preserved in the side chapel.

Are there historic tombstones at the church? Yes, two red marble tombstone slabs from the late 16th century, decorated with coats of arms showing a hand.