Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross stands on Vinořské náměstí, the main square of Vinoř, a district in eastern Prague, and is regarded as the most significant Baroque monument in this part of the city. The building is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

How old is the church?

A place of worship is believed to have stood on this spot since the 12th century, though little survives from the earliest building. A wooden church once stood here and burned down; it was replaced by a Romanesque stone church of the tribune type (with a gallery), of which only the tower masonry has survived - making it the oldest visible part of the whole complex today.

Where does the current Baroque appearance come from?

The church owes its present three-aisle shape to a reconstruction carried out in 1727-1728 by František Maxmilián Kaňka, one of the leading architects of Czech Baroque. Both side aisles were added during this rebuild, giving the church the form visitors see today. Above the façade rises a prism-shaped tower topped with a low, onion-shaped dome, its sides pierced by large Baroque windows.

What can visitors see inside?

The interior houses a historic organ dating from 1781, one of the more valuable pieces of furnishing in the church. The building serves as the parish church of the Roman Catholic parish of Vinoř, which also maintains its own page documenting the local community's history. Standing on the square at the heart of what was once a separate village - now a Prague district - the church remains the main landmark of the whole area, visible from a distance.

Can the church be visited?

The church does not keep fixed, tourist-style opening hours - it remains an active parish church. It does, however, regularly open its doors to the wider public as part of the nationwide Noc kostelů (Night of Churches) event, and again during the Christmas season through the Křesťanské Vánoce programme, when services and accompanying events take place. These occasions are a good opportunity to see the interior and the organ up close.

Where exactly is the church located?

The church stands on Vinořské náměstí, the main square of the Vinoř district in eastern Prague, surrounded by the built-up centre of the former village. Coordinates: 50.1429694, 14.5809278.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the church in Vinoř? The site's history goes back to the 12th century, but the current Baroque form dates from the 1727-1728 reconstruction.

Who rebuilt the church in Baroque style? The reconstruction was carried out by František Maxmilián Kaňka, the architect responsible for adding both side aisles in 1727-1728.

Is the church a protected monument? Yes, it is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic and considered the most important Baroque building in this part of Prague.

What survives from the original medieval building? Only the tower masonry survives from the original Romanesque church; the rest of the structure dates from later reconstructions.

Can tourists go inside? Day to day it functions as an active parish church, but the interior is opened to visitors during events such as Noc kostelů and the Christmas season.