Church of Saints Simon and Jude

The Church of the Holy Trinity and Saints Simon and Jude stands in Dýšina, a small village in the Plzeň-město district, about 10 km northeast of Plzeň. It is one of the oldest religious buildings in the area, with roots reaching back to the early 14th century, and it is today a protected cultural monument.

Where does the church in Dýšina come from?

The church was built in the early Gothic style in the first quarter of the 14th century. The first written record of it dates to 1328, when it was consecrated by Přibyslav, a suffragan bishop of Prague. By 1352 it already appeared as a parish church in the registers of papal tithes, where it is recorded as having paid one kopa (sixty) of groschen in tithe — evidence that an active parish existed in Dýšina by the mid-14th century.

How has the building changed over the centuries?

A fire in the 17th century destroyed much of the original Gothic fabric of the church. It was rebuilt in the early Baroque style, giving it the heavier, more monumental character typical of that period. In 1696 a two-tower entrance façade was added, and it remains one of the most recognizable features of the building today, setting it apart from the surrounding village architecture. In 1727, on the initiative of the builder Jakub Auguston, a rectory and a cemetery wall with gates were built around the church grounds.

The church has been listed as a protected cultural monument since 1958. Since 2010 it has been undergoing general reconstruction, with conservation work carried out on both the structure and its furnishings.

What is worth seeing inside?

The interior preserves several notable pieces that survived the building's various rebuildings. The main altar dates from 1666 and carries a Baroque replica of a late-Gothic statue of the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, made in 1723. Next to it hangs a painting of the Holy Trinity, painted in 1851 by the Prague painter Jan Herzog, echoing the church's full dedication. To the right of the altar stands a wooden Baroque pulpit, also from 1723, one of the more notable pieces of woodcarving in the interior.

Can visitors see the inside of the church?

The church in Dýšina is among the sites taking part in the nationwide Czech event Noc kostelů (Night of Churches), an annual event during which churches across the country open their doors to visitors. It is one of the occasions when the interior can be seen without arranging access through the parish beforehand.

Frequently asked questions

What is the church in Dýšina called? Its full name is the Church of the Holy Trinity and Saints Simon and Jude (Czech: Kostel Nejsvětější Trojice a svatého Šimona a Judy).

How old is the church? It was built in the first quarter of the 14th century, and the first record of it dates from 1328 — making it over 700 years old.

In what architectural style was it built? It was originally an early Gothic building. After a fire in the 17th century it was rebuilt in the early Baroque style, with its distinctive two-tower façade added in 1696.

Is the church a protected monument? Yes, it has been listed as a cultural monument since 1958, and it has been undergoing general reconstruction since 2010.

How far is it from Plzeň? Dýšina, where the church stands, lies about 10 km northeast of Plzeň, in the Plzeň-město district.