Church of Three Wise Men

Church of the Three Wise Men (Kostel svatých Tří králů) in Mnichovo Hradiště is an early Baroque sacred building standing next to a former Capuchin monastery, and one of the few churches in the region that today combines an active place of worship with a museum collection of sculpture. Its exterior is modest, but the interior holds a history reaching back to the late 17th century.

Who built the church and when?

The church was designed by a Capuchin friar himself, Father Jiří z Mnichova, a member of the local Capuchin community. Construction began in 1694 and was completed five years later, in 1699. The building formed part of a larger monastery complex that still creates a coherent architectural ensemble in the town centre today. Since 31 December 1967, the entire area of the former Capuchin monastery, together with the church, has been listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

What does the interior look like?

The exterior architecture is deliberately austere — a rectangular structure with almost undecorated facades, in keeping with the ascetic principles of the Capuchin order. A chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary is attached on the south side of the building. The interior furnishings date from the Baroque period, around 1700, and are the main draw for visitors today. The main altar features a painting depicting the adoration of the Three Wise Men, flanked by paintings of St. Anthony and St. Francis, both painted in 1699 by Jan Kryštof Liška.

What makes the Chapel of St. Anne special?

Between 1723 and 1724, the Chapel of St. Anne was added to the church complex, its interior richer in decoration than the main nave. Since 1785, this chapel has held the remains of Albrecht von Wallenstein (Waldstein), one of the most notable figures of the Thirty Years' War and a name closely tied to the history of the region and the nearby Mnichovo Hradiště chateau. For many visitors, this connection is the main reason to step inside.

Why is there a sculpture collection inside a church?

Since 1966, the church has housed a lapidarium of Central Bohemian Baroque sculpture — a collection of roughly 50 stone sculptures. The pieces come from various locations across the region and offer a unique overview of both religious and secular Baroque stone carving. This gives the building a dual role: a functioning church and a gallery under one roof, a combination rarely found elsewhere in the region.

How do you get there?

The church stands in the centre of Mnichovo Hradiště, right next to the chateau complex, making it easy to combine both sights during a single visit to the town. Its geographic coordinates are 50.529238, 14.973389, placing it firmly within the historic core of the town.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Church of the Three Wise Men built? Construction started in 1694 and finished in 1699, based on a design by the Capuchin friar Jiří z Mnichova.

What is kept in the Chapel of St. Anne? Since 1785, the chapel has held the remains of Albrecht von Wallenstein; the chapel itself was built between 1723 and 1724.

Can you see sculptures inside the church? Yes, since 1966 the church has housed a lapidarium of Central Bohemian Baroque sculpture with around 50 stone exhibits.

Is the church a protected monument? Yes, since 31 December 1967 the whole former Capuchin monastery area, including the church, has been protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.