Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross stands on Mariánské náměstí in Černovice, a small town near Tábor in South Bohemia, Czech Republic. This Roman Catholic parish church traces its origins back to the Middle Ages, though its current Baroque appearance is the result of 18th-century rebuilding. Together with a freestanding bell tower and a column topped with a statue of the Madonna, it forms a protected monument complex right at the heart of the town.

What is the history behind the church in Černovice?

The earliest written mentions of a church on this site date back to the late 14th century. The building also has a place in local history of turbulent times: in 1457, residents of Černovice took shelter inside its walls to defend themselves during an invasion by the troops of Zdeněk of Šternberk. The structure that forms the basis of today's church was likely built before 1668, but that earlier building was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt in Baroque style in 1737 under the patronage of Josef Jan Maxmilián Kinský, owner of the surrounding estate. A further fire in 1796 damaged the church again, along with the neighboring bell tower dating from the 16th century — both structures required repairs afterward.

What can visitors see inside the church?

The interior is divided by pairs of pilasters topped with Ionic capitals, giving the space the rhythmic, ordered character typical of Baroque architecture. A triumphal arch separates the presbytery from the main nave, and its vault is built as cross vaulting. The church's most distinctive feature is its ceiling fresco, painted by Jan Vysekal the Younger of Kutná Hora between 20 May and 9 August 1898. Remarkably, it survives today in its original, unrestored state — a rarity among church paintings of that era, where repeated overpainting often obscures the original work.

What are the bell tower and Madonna column next to the church?

The church in Černovice does not stand alone. An integral part of the site is a freestanding bell tower dating from the 16th century — older than the church building itself in its present form. It was damaged in the 1796 fire along with the church and repaired afterward. Nearby, on Mariánské náměstí, stands a column topped with a statue of the Virgin Mary. All three elements — the church, the bell tower, and the column — are listed together as a single protected cultural monument.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? On Mariánské náměstí, in the center of Černovice, a town near Tábor in the South Bohemian region of the Czech Republic.

What architectural style is the church? It originated as a Gothic building, but its present Baroque form dates from the 1737 reconstruction that followed a fire.

Is there anything specific worth looking for inside? Yes — the original, never-restored ceiling fresco from 1898, painted by Jan Vysekal the Younger.

Is the church a protected monument? Yes, the church together with its bell tower and the Marian column are legally protected as a cultural monument.

Is the bell tower part of the church building? No, it is a separate 16th-century structure, damaged in the same 1796 fire that struck the church.