Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary stands on a low hill in Modřany, in Prague's southern district of Prague 12, surrounded by the local parish cemetery. It ranks among the older sacred buildings on the southern edge of Prague, with roots reaching back to the Middle Ages.

What is the history behind the church?

The exact founding date of the church is unknown. Local tradition links its origin to a land grant made to the Vyšehrad Chapter by Duke Soběslav II in 1178. The earliest indirect written reference to a priest in Modřany dates to 1329, while a 1384 list of parishes belonging to the Říčany archdeaconry provides direct confirmation that a church already stood here — the same record notes a "worn, old missal" in use at the time.

The original building was Romanesque, later reworked in Gothic style. It suffered repeated damage from armed conflict: in 1420 Hussite forces burned the whole of Modřany while marching toward the monastery in Zbraslav, and during the Thirty Years' War the church was plundered three times — once by Saxon troops and twice by Swedish forces, who used the building as a weapons store.

After the Battle of White Mountain the church was partially repaired, though for a time it had no resident priest. From 1622 the Zbraslav monastery took over its administration, a role it kept until Emperor Joseph II dissolved the monastery, after which the church property passed to the state religious fund.

The building owes its current Baroque appearance to alterations carried out in 1724 and 1756 (some sources cite 1754), when the nave was extended and the ceiling reworked. A further thorough repair in 1881 added two side altars.

What can you see inside and around it?

Inside, the organ is a highlight — the first instrument, without pedals, was donated in 1690 by monks from the Zbraslav monastery. Between 1947 and 1949 a gallery was added and new organs installed. The exterior still shows traces of the earlier Gothic building phase beneath its dominant 18th-century Baroque form.

The church is ringed by the Modřany cemetery, one of the older active burial grounds in this part of Prague, and the parish rectory stands immediately nearby on K dolům street.

How do you get there?

The church sits in Modřany, part of administrative Prague 12, on the southern edge of the city — a residential area away from Prague's usual tourist center. Public transport toward Modřany is the most practical way to reach it.

When is the best time to visit?

The building remains an active Roman Catholic parish church, so it's best to plan a visit outside service hours, or around open-house events such as the annual Night of Churches, when the church and adjoining cemetery are typically open to visitors.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the church in Modřany? Written records of the parish date to the 14th century (1329 and 1384), though tradition traces its origin to a 1178 land donation to the Vyšehrad Chapter.

Was the church ever damaged or destroyed? Yes. It was burned during the Hussite campaign of 1420 and plundered three times during the Thirty Years' War, when Swedish troops used it as an arsenal.

What architectural style does the building show? It combines remnants of an early Romanesque-Gothic phase with the Baroque form given to it during rebuilding in 1724, 1756, and a further renovation in 1881.

What stands next to the church? The Modřany parish cemetery surrounds the building, and the rectory stands nearby on K dolům street.