Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Stará Boleslav)

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Stará Boleslav (part of the town of Brandýs nad Labem-Stará Boleslav, Praha-východ district) is one of the oldest and most significant pilgrimage sites in the Czech Republic, closely tied to the cult of Saint Wenceslas.

Why is this place so historically important?

Stará Boleslav is forever linked with the death of Duke Wenceslas, murdered by his own brother Boleslav on 28 September 935. That act of fratricide turned Wenceslas into the patron saint of the Czech lands, and the town itself has drawn pilgrims without interruption since the Middle Ages. The current church replaced an older Gothic building that could no longer accommodate the growing crowds of visitors.

Who built the church you see today?

Construction of the present early Baroque church ran from 1613 to 1625, based on a design attributed to the Italian architect Giovanni Maria Filippini, with the works overseen by Jakub de Vaccani. In the 18th century, the tower, the western façade and the ambulatory were most likely worked on by Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, one of the leading names of Czech Baroque architecture. A complete reconstruction of the basilica was finished at the turn of 2019 and 2020, with the renewed building reopened during a solemn service at midnight on 1 January 2020.

What is inside the church?

The spiritual heart of the building is the Palladium of Bohemia — a Gothic metal relief of the Virgin Mary with the Child, venerated since the 17th century as a symbol of protection over the Czech lands. For centuries, this image has been the main reason pilgrims travel to Stará Boleslav. The church crypt also holds the remains of the Prussian cavalry general Carl Ernst von Wartenberg, killed near the church in May 1757 during the Seven Years' War.

How do you get there?

Stará Boleslav lies in the Praha-východ district, directly adjoining Brandýs nad Labem, with which it forms a single town. The trip from Prague typically takes about 30–40 minutes by car or public transport. Plan for a longer walk in the area, since a separate church stands right next to the Church of the Assumption — the Basilica of St. Wenceslas, originally built in the 11th century on the orders of Duke Břetislav I on the spot where Wenceslas was killed, later rebuilt in Renaissance and Baroque style.

When is the best time to visit?

The most memorable time of year falls around 28 September, the feast day of St. Wenceslas, when large pilgrimages converge on Stará Boleslav and the small town fills with visitors. If you prefer a quieter visit with room to explore at your own pace, it is worth choosing another date outside the main religious celebrations.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Palladium of Bohemia? It is a Gothic metal relief of the Virgin Mary with the Child, venerated since the 17th century as a symbol of protection over the country, displayed on the church's main altar.

Why does Stará Boleslav matter to Czech history? Duke Wenceslas was murdered here by his brother Boleslav in 935, an event that made him the patron saint of the Czech lands.

Is there anything else to see next to the church? Yes, the separate Basilica of St. Wenceslas stands right beside the Church of the Assumption, built on the exact site of his death.

When was the church last renovated? A complete reconstruction was finished at the turn of 2019 and 2020, and the church reopened on 1 January 2020.