Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Dobříš)

The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Dobříš is a small cemetery church on the edge of this Central Bohemian town, one of the last surviving traces of the original village of Dobříš that once stood here alongside the now-vanished Vargač manor.

Where did this church come from?

The church was most likely founded in 1589 by the royal governor Oldřich Doudlebský z Doudleb. It was originally dedicated to the Holy Trinity and for a long time served as a modest filial church for the surrounding population rather than a full parish seat.

That changed in 1734, when an independent Dobříš parish was established and the church was promoted to parish status. It kept that role only until 1797, when a new, larger church was built facing the local chateau. The Holy Trinity dedication, together with the parish itself, moved to the new building, leaving the older church to find a new purpose.

How did the church's role change over time?

From 1797 the building became a cemetery church and took on the dedication it still carries today — the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Following earlier repairs in 1688, it served until 1814 as the burial vault of the Colloredo-Mannsfeld family, owners of the Dobříš estate.

Another significant renovation came in 1807, commissioned by Prince Rudolf Colloredo-Mannsfeld. The works removed the sacristy, vestibule, choir, pulpit, and three altars, while the family tomb itself was repaired. The church lost much of its earlier baroque furnishing in the process, taking on a plainer, more strictly funerary character.

What will you see there today?

The church's present-day surroundings largely date from the late 1980s, when a scattering garden for cremated remains was created around it — a solution typical of late socialist Czechoslovakia, when traditional parish burials were being scaled back. Since 1992, masses for the deceased have been held in the church again, restoring some of its spiritual function after decades in which it served mainly as part of the cemetery grounds.

Today it is a quiet, unassuming stop for anyone exploring historic Dobříš on foot — a place that ties together sacred architecture, the history of the Colloredo-Mannsfeld family, and local burial customs.

How do you get there?

The church stands within Dobříš, a town easily reached by car or bus from Prague (roughly 40 kilometers to the southwest) or from nearby Příbram. The building itself sits on cemetery grounds in a quiet, green part of town, a short distance from the center and the Dobříš chateau — worth combining with a walk around the rest of the town.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the church in Dobříš? It was most likely founded in 1589, though its current dedication and cemetery function date only from the end of the 18th century.

Why did the church change its dedication from the Holy Trinity to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross? When a new parish church was built facing the chateau in 1797, the Holy Trinity dedication moved with the parish to that new building. The older church, now serving as a cemetery chapel, was rededicated to the Holy Cross.

Can you still attend mass at the church? Yes — since 1992, masses for the deceased have again been held there.

What surrounds the church? It stands within a cemetery that includes a scattering garden for cremated remains, established in the late 1980s.