Husův sbor

Husův sbor is a striking congregation building of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church in Prague's Dejvice district (Prague 6), instantly recognizable by the tall tower that rises above the surrounding streets.

Where exactly is it, and what does it look like?

The complex stands on Wuchterlova Street, in a quiet, villa-lined corner of Dejvice, well away from the tourist crush of central Prague. Its most striking feature is a slender, roughly 42-metre neo-Gothic tower that dominates the local skyline and serves as a landmark for people living nearby. The church itself sits in the courtyard behind the street-facing building, so it isn't immediately visible from the pavement — you have to step through the entrance to find it.

Who built it, and why?

Construction ran from 1925 to 1927, designed by architect Jiří Stibral and carried out under builder and architect Alois Zima. The church in the courtyard was formally opened on 19 October 1928. From the outset, the building was more than a place of worship: it also housed a theological seminary and the office of the patriarch and founder of the Czechoslovak Church — later renamed the Czechoslovak Hussite Church — Karel Farský. Clergy for this newly formed denomination, which broke away from the Catholic Church after Czechoslovakia gained independence, were trained right here.

What's inside besides the church itself?

The Wuchterlova complex is far more than a single nave. Following the pattern typical of Czechoslovak Hussite Church buildings, it combines religious, educational and residential functions under one roof. Alongside the worship space there are lecture halls once used by the seminary, a columbarium holding roughly six hundred urn niches, and a residential wing. Combining a church, a school and a burial space in a single complex was characteristic of this young denomination, which had to build its entire infrastructure from scratch during the interwar period.

Is it protected, and why is it worth a visit?

Since 1990, Husův sbor has been listed as a protected cultural monument. For visitors, it offers a rare combination of interwar neo-Gothic architecture and the history of one of the significant religious movements to emerge in newly independent Czechoslovakia. It also makes a worthwhile stop for anyone exploring Dejvice, a district otherwise known for its functionalist and modernist architecture — the church provides a striking stylistic counterpoint to the apartment blocks and villas around it.

Frequently asked questions

Which denomination does Husův sbor belong to? The Czechoslovak Hussite Church, a denomination founded in Czechoslovakia in the early 20th century, independent of the Catholic Church.

When was the complex built, and when did the church open? The building went up between 1925 and 1927; the church in the courtyard opened on 19 October 1928.

What makes the building stand out? A roughly 42-metre neo-Gothic tower visible from much of Dejvice, and the fact that the church sits in a courtyard rather than fronting directly onto the street.

What else does the complex contain besides the church? Former lecture halls from the theological seminary, a columbarium with about six hundred niches, and a residential section — the building combined religious, educational and residential purposes from the start.