Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Česká Skalice

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary stands in Malá Skalice, a part of the town of Česká Skalice in the Náchod District of the Hradec Králové Region, in the northeastern Czech Republic. This Baroque church is one of the town's oldest and most recognizable landmarks — notable both for its architecture and for its ties to one of the most celebrated figures in Czech literature, Božena Němcová.

How old is the church?

A chapel is known to have stood on this site as early as 1350, the year of its first written mention. The building's present Baroque form dates from a major renovation completed in 1725, funded by Anna Viktoria, widow of Wenceslaus Piccolomini. The tower, which still dominates the surrounding skyline, was added a decade earlier, in 1715.

What can visitors see inside?

The church has a single nave with an attached tower. On the north side stand the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre and the so-called Black Chapel, while the sacristy with an oratory is located to the south. The main altar dates from 1732 and features a wood carving of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, created by Severín Stolař of Moravská Třebová.

One of the church's rarest treasures is a tin baptismal font from 1490. Its inscription bearing the name "Česká Skalice" is the oldest surviving written record of the town's name, giving the font historical significance well beyond its craftsmanship.

Why is the church linked to Božena Němcová?

The parents of Božena Němcová, one of the towering figures of 19th-century Czech literature and author of "Babička" (The Grandmother), were married in this church. Němcová herself was married here too, to Josef Němec, in 1837. For visitors tracing her life story, the church is a natural stop alongside the nearby Ratibořice chateau, where much of her most famous work is set.

Are there visible traces of war on the building?

Yes. Bullet holes from the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 are still visible on the church tower — physical reminders of a conflict whose battlefields ran through this part of Bohemia and helped reshape the map of Central Europe.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? In Malá Skalice, part of the town of Česká Skalice, in the Náchod District of the Hradec Králové Region.

When did the church get its current appearance? The Baroque renovation that gave the church its present form was completed in 1725, and the tower dates from 1715. The site itself is much older — a chapel here was first recorded in 1350.

What is the most valuable object inside the church? The tin baptismal font from 1490, whose inscription contains the oldest known written record of the name Česká Skalice, along with the 1732 Baroque main altar carved by Severín Stolař.

What is the church's connection to Božena Němcová? Her parents were married here, and in 1837 she herself married Josef Němec in this church.