Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary stands at the heart of Chomutov, a Czech town near the border with Germany, closing off the north-western side of Náměstí 1. Máje square. Together with the slender tower rising beside it, this Gothic deanery church is the most recognisable landmark in the town's historic core.

How old is the church?

Written records of a parish church on this site go back to 1330, and masonry from the presbytery and sacristy still standing today dates from that period — the oldest surviving parts of the building. The parish itself is older still, tracing its roots to the 13th century, with parish registers kept continuously since 1606, making them a valuable record of the region's past.

Why does the church look the way it does today?

The building's present appearance took shape in the early 16th century, when the local noble family that then held the town commissioned a Renaissance-style rebuilding of the church. The centuries that followed were far from quiet: a fire in 1598 badly damaged the structure, destroying the vault over the presbytery, which was only rebuilt in 1625. A further, more thorough renovation followed in 1909–1915, when the church's western gable was reconstructed based, according to local conservation records, on its original appearance from centuries earlier.

What is the tower standing next to the church?

A free-standing town tower rises just south of the church, built around 1525. Standing just under 54 metres tall, it originally served the town as both a lookout post and part of its fortifications. Between 1873 and 1874 the tower was remodelled in neo-Gothic style, the look it still carries today. It now operates as an observation tower open to visitors: from May to September, daily except Mondays, guests can climb to the top for views over Chomutov and the surrounding hills, and the tower also houses a permanent exhibition on the town's history.

Is it worth visiting?

Church and tower together close the north-western edge of Náměstí 1. Máje square and form the natural starting point for exploring Chomutov's old town. Walking across the square, it is hard to miss this two-part composition — a slender tower set against the church's heavier Gothic mass, one of the most photographed sights in town. The whole complex, reflecting centuries of local history, is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? On Náměstí 1. Máje square in central Chomutov, on its north-western side.

When was the church built? The parish church is first mentioned in written sources in 1330, though its current form dates mainly from the early 16th century, after a Renaissance rebuilding.

Can visitors climb the tower next to the church? Yes — the town tower beside the church operates as a lookout point, open to visitors from May to September, daily except Mondays.

How tall is the tower? Just under 54 metres.

Is the site protected as a historic monument? Yes, the church and tower together are listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.