Church of Saints Peter and Paul

The Church of St. Peter and Paul is a Roman Catholic parish church standing in Horní Tanvald, a part of the town of Tanvald in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic, close to the Polish border. For more than two centuries it has served as the spiritual heart of the local parish, though today, sitting away from the town's modern centre, it functions mainly as a cemetery church.

How do you get there?

The church stands in Horní Tanvald, a quieter part of Tanvald away from the main built-up area, so it's best reached by car or on foot from the town centre — a walk of around fifteen minutes. Its coordinates are 50.738561, 15.278528, which makes GPS navigation straightforward. Tanvald lies in the Jizera Mountains, roughly an hour's drive from Jelenia Góra on the Polish side of the border, making the church an easy addition to a day trip through the Polish-Czech borderland.

What is the history behind the church?

Construction began in 1787 — the foundation stone was laid on 8 March that year — and the finished church was consecrated on 28 September 1789 by Father Josef Ultschem. It was built in Rococo style, funded entirely through collections and donations from residents of the surrounding settlements. At first, pastoral care was provided from the parish in Smržovka. Only in 1835 was a rectory built next to the church, and on 1 January 1838 Father Josef Feit became the first permanent pastoral administrator of the site; that same year a cemetery beside the church was established and consecrated. Horní Tanvald's standing rose further in 1851, when it was elevated to an independent parish, with Father Feit appointed its first parish priest.

Roughly a century after its original construction, the church underwent a major rebuilding. Starting in 1880, local residents decided to fund, at their own expense, a larger and more dignified church on the same site, and the works carried out in 1889–1890 gave the building its present Neo-Renaissance appearance, including its distinctive tower topped with a pyramidal spire.

What will you see on site?

The church is a single-nave building with slightly convex side walls, a rectangular presbytery with a sacristy set on its axis, and a facade tower finished with rustication imitating cut ashlar stone. The structure carries visible traces of its two building phases — the original Rococo church and the later Neo-Renaissance rebuild — making it an interesting example of how rural sacred architecture evolved over the course of the 19th century. In recent years the roof had deteriorated so badly that the building was at risk of collapse; after years of effort by the parish and support from donors, essential repairs to the roof structure were carried out, saving the church from structural disaster.

Next to the church lies an old cemetery dating back to the Prussian-Austrian wars and the First World War. Among its features is a monument to the German poet Theodor Körner, erected in 1913, adding a further historical layer to the site.

When is the best time to visit?

Since this is an active parish church, the best opportunities to see the interior are Sunday services and open events such as the Night of Churches, a recurring event held at many Czech parishes. Outside of those occasions, a daytime visit is worthwhile, when good light does justice to the building's shape and the old cemetery surrounding it.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? In Horní Tanvald, part of the town of Tanvald in the Liberec Region, close to the Polish border.

How old is the church? The original building was constructed between 1787 and 1789, but its current Neo-Renaissance appearance dates from a rebuilding carried out in 1889–1890.

Can visitors go inside? As an active parish church, the interior is mainly accessible during services and occasional open events such as the Night of Churches.

What else is worth seeing nearby? The historic cemetery next to the church, dating from the Prussian-Austrian wars and the First World War, with a monument to the poet Theodor Körner.