church of the Holy Saviour

Church of the Holy Saviour stands on Salvátorská street in Prague's Old Town, right on the edge of the Jewish Quarter (Josefov). Modest from the outside but surprisingly spacious inside, it is today the largest Protestant church in the city — and its story begins with a community of German Lutherans who once needed a home of their own.

Why was this church built?

By the early 1600s, Prague had a substantial German-speaking Lutheran community that lacked a large church of its own. Count Jáchym Ondřej Šlik bought the land on their behalf, and construction ran from 1611 to 1615, led by builder J. Christofen of Graubünden; the design is generally credited to the Italian architect Giovanni Maria Filippi. The result was a Gothic-Renaissance church.

How did the Lutherans lose it?

The congregation enjoyed their new church for only six years. After the Battle of White Mountain in 1620 triggered the forced re-Catholicization of Bohemia, the Lutherans were expelled and the building was confiscated. In 1626 it passed to the Catholic Paulan order, who built an adjoining monastery linked to the church by a covered corridor.

What happened after the fire?

A fire damaged the church in 1689, and it was rebuilt partly in Baroque style. A slender tower was added in 1720, and Rococo stuccowork enriched the interior around the mid-18th century; builder Jan Prachner carried out further alterations in 1777. Joseph II's church reforms of 1784 shut the building down, and for a time it served as a mint office.

How did it become Protestant again?

The church only regained its sacred purpose in 1863, when it was bought and restored by Bohemian evangelicals; the interior was reconsecrated in 1865. Since then it has belonged to the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren and still functions as an active parish — the largest Protestant congregation in Prague.

What is inside worth seeing?

The interior is bright and comparatively plain, set off by Baroque galleries running along the walls. The dominant feature is a large ceiling fresco showing the Saviour surrounded by angels. Thanks to its excellent acoustics, the church doubles as a concert hall, regularly hosting sacred and classical music performances.

Can visitors go inside outside of services?

Yes — the church can be visited before services, before concerts, or by prior arrangement. Sunday services start at 10:00, and visitors are welcome to attend.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? At Salvátorská 1, in Prague's Old Town (Praha 1), close to the border with the Josefov district.

Which denomination does it belong to today? The Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren — it is currently Prague's largest Protestant church.

Are concerts held here? Yes, thanks to its strong acoustics the church regularly hosts sacred and classical music concerts.

Is this the same church as St. Salvator by the Klementinum? No — they are two separate buildings. This church stands on Salvátorská street near Josefov, while the Klementinum's St. Salvator church is on Křižovnické náměstí by Charles Bridge.