Church of St. James the Greater

The Church of St. James sits tucked away on Malá Štupartská street, roughly halfway between Old Town Square and Republic Square — and despite its modest street presence, it's the third-longest church in all of Prague. It also happens to be one of the few churches in the city where a human arm hangs above the entrance.

Where does the church come from, and why is it Baroque on the inside but Gothic at heart?

The church was founded in the first half of the 13th century alongside a Franciscan monastery, built in the Gothic style typical of medieval Prague. That original structure stood for centuries until a massive fire tore through the Old Town in 1689, gutting much of the church's interior. The blaze is widely attributed to agents of Louis XIV, active during the Nine Years' War. Architect Jan Šimon Pánek led the rebuilding, giving the church its current Baroque form: structural work wrapped up in 1702, while the interior decoration continued until 1739. The result is a Gothic skeleton wrapped in an ornate Baroque skin. The church now holds the rank of minor basilica, reflecting its standing among Prague's sacred buildings.

What's the story behind the shriveled hand by the door?

The church's best-known oddity is a mummified human forearm, hung on a hook near the main entrance, high up under the vaulted ceiling. According to legend, a thief once tried to steal jewels adorning a statue of the Virgin Mary. The moment he reached for the gems, the statue seized his arm and refused to let go until parishioners came running. With no other way to free him, the arm was amputated on the spot — only then did the statue release its grip. The severed limb was hung inside the church as a warning to future thieves. The story likely dates back to the 16th or 17th century, though no one knows exactly when the arm was actually put on display — it still draws the eye of nearly every visitor who walks in.

Why is the church famous for its acoustics and organ?

St. James is widely regarded as one of the best-sounding church interiors in Prague. In 1705, an organ built by the Czech organ maker Abraham Starck of Loket was installed inside. The instrument was expanded several times afterward — a Romantic disposition was added to the original Baroque one in 1941, and the last major overhaul took place in 1982. Today the organ has 4 manuals, 91 stops and 8,277 pipes, making it one of the largest in the Czech Republic. Combined with the church's tall, elongated nave and hard stone surfaces, the acoustics give organ recitals and chamber concerts an unusually full, resonant sound — one of the reasons the church regularly hosts concerts.

What else is worth seeing inside?

The interior impresses through sheer scale alone — the tall, three-nave hall stretches back far deeper than the modest facade suggests. Look out for the elaborate stucco work, numerous Baroque side altars, and the ceiling frescoes, all products of the reconstruction that followed the fire of the late 17th century.

Frequently asked questions

Is the thief's hand in the church real? Yes — it's a genuine mummified human forearm hanging near the entrance, tied to a legend that has circulated for centuries.

Does the church host organ concerts? Yes, thanks to its large organ and exceptional acoustics, the church regularly hosts organ and chamber music concerts.

Is entry to the church free? The church functions as an active parish church, open for visits during opening hours outside of services.

How do you get there from Old Town Square? The church stands on Malá Štupartská street, just a few minutes' walk from Old Town Square toward Republic Square.