Holy Trinity Church in Prague (New Town, Trojická)

Holy Trinity Church on Trojická Street is a small, unassuming Roman Catholic church in Prague's New Town, tucked into the historic Podskalí district close to the old Vltava riverbank. It's one of the very few buildings to survive the demolition of the old fishermen's and raftsmen's settlement of Podskalí around the turn of the 20th century, making it one of the last physical links to a riverside neighborhood that regulation of the Vltava effectively erased.

How did this church come to be here?

The site's story begins in the 14th century, when a Gothic chapel dedicated to St. Andrew — patron of the craftsmen and raftsmen who lived and worked in Podskalí — stood here. The first written record of the building dates to 1358. After the destruction of the Hussite wars, the chapel was rebuilt, and by the mid-15th century it had been rededicated to the Holy Trinity, the patronage it still carries today.

How has it changed over the centuries?

The church's present Baroque appearance is the result of an extended 18th-century remodeling. The nave was lengthened in 1728, and a Calvary chapel was added in 1751. The building reached its current form in 1781–1782, when the distinctive onion-domed tower and a sacristy were built. A further renovation followed in 1871, adding a porch among other elements. Despite these later additions, the church retains a single-nave layout with a Gothic five-sided chancel — a clear trace of its medieval origins still visible today.

What should you notice when you see it?

At just 32 metres, the tower is among the lowest of any parish church in Prague — an easy detail to miss in a city famous for its skyline of towers and spires, but worth pausing on. The church is listed as an immovable cultural monument of the Czech Republic and remains an active parish church, belonging to the Roman Catholic parish of the Holy Trinity in Podskalí, with regular Sunday and evening Masses.

Why does this small church matter to Prague?

For centuries, Podskalí was a distinct, working-class riverside quarter of raftsmen, fishermen and timber workers tied to the Vltava. The regulation of the river and construction of new embankments around 1900 wiped out almost all of that old settlement. The church on Trojická, together with a handful of neighboring buildings, is one of the last witnesses to that vanished world, now standing amid the modern fabric of the New Town.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? On Trojická Street in Prague's New Town, within the former Podskalí district, close to the Vltava riverside.

Is this the same Holy Trinity Church that stands on Spálená Street? No. Several Prague churches share this dedication — the church on Trojická is a separate, much smaller building with its own distinct history and architecture from the one on Spálená.

How old is the church? Its earliest history dates to the 14th century, when a Gothic chapel dedicated to St. Andrew stood on the site, though the current Baroque form dates mainly from the 18th century.

Can visitors go inside? It functions as an active parish church, generally accessible during services.

What makes it stand out among Prague's churches? Its notably low, 32-metre tower and its status as one of the last surviving remnants of the old Podskalí settlement.