Church of Saints Philip and James in Dlouhá Ves

The Church of Saints Philip and James in Dlouhá Ves (Klatovy District, Plzeň Region) is a small village parish church whose roots reach back to the Middle Ages, though its present appearance owes mainly to a Baroque rebuilding carried out in the early 18th century. It stands in the village of Dlouhá Ves, in western Bohemia, an area forming the foothills of the Šumava mountains.

What is the history of the church in Dlouhá Ves?

The earliest known written mention of the church dates from the late 1360s (sources give either 1368 or 1369). A Gothic, single-nave church without a tower originally stood on the site - a typical form for a small rural parish church of that period. The building survived in that form for several centuries until the early 18th century, when it underwent a thorough Baroque rebuilding. That work gave the interior the unified Baroque character still visible today. The date 1711, preserved in the northern chapel, documents this stage of construction.

What can be seen inside the church?

The interior holds elements from several different periods. A Gothic stone baptismal font has survived from the original medieval building, standing in contrast to the Baroque decoration of the rest of the interior. Fragments of old wall paintings have been uncovered in several places, evidence of an earlier decorative scheme. The church also houses a Baroque organ, built by the organ maker Vojtěch Schreyer and dated to around 1780. The instrument has not been played for more than twenty years and is gradually deteriorating due to woodworm damage. A local association, Spolek Živá obec, has been raising funds for its restoration since 2018.

What is around the church?

The church is surrounded by several protected memorial trees, which give the site a quiet, secluded character. A memorial to the residents of Dlouhá Ves who fell in World War I stands nearby. The area around the building was formerly a churchyard cemetery, though it no longer serves that function.

Where exactly is the church located?

The church stands in the village of Dlouhá Ves, in the Klatovy District of the Plzeň Region, in western Bohemia, in the foothills of the Šumava mountains. Its geographic coordinates are approximately 49.195112 N, 13.513018 E.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the church in Dlouhá Ves? The earliest known written mention of the church dates from the late 1360s. Its present Baroque appearance, however, comes from a rebuilding carried out in the early 18th century, confirmed by the date 1711 preserved in the northern chapel.

Did the original church have a tower? No. The original Gothic building was a single-nave church without a tower, a typical form for small rural parish churches of that era.

What is the most notable feature inside? Among the most notable features are the Gothic stone baptismal font and the Baroque organ built by Vojtěch Schreyer around 1780. The organ is currently unplayable and in need of costly restoration.

Is there a cemetery next to the church? The area around the church was formerly a parish cemetery. Today the church is surrounded mainly by old protected trees and a memorial to those who died in World War I.

Where is Dlouhá Ves located? Dlouhá Ves is a village in the Klatovy District of the Plzeň Region, in western Bohemia, in the foothills of the Šumava mountains.