Church of St. James the Greater

The Church of Saint James the Greater in Jihlava is a Gothic parish church standing on James Square (Jakubské náměstí) in the Czech town of Jihlava, one of the most recognizable landmarks on the city skyline. The three-nave hall church with a long presbytery and two tall towers on its facade is dedicated to the apostle James the Greater, patron saint of miners — a fitting choice, since Jihlava grew wealthy on medieval silver mining.

What is the history behind the church?

Construction began in the early 1240s. Before the works were fully complete, a fire damaged the building, and in May 1257 the Bishop of Olomouc, Bruno von Schauenburg, solemnly consecrated it as a parish church. The northern tower was added in the early 14th century, and the southern tower, serving as the bell tower, followed roughly a hundred years later. The southern tower gave builders trouble: unstable ground caused it to lean, forcing them to shorten it by as much as 9 meters. Both towers were topped with Baroque onion domes that are still visible far across the rooftops of Jihlava today. The church's current appearance largely reflects a purist restoration carried out at the end of the 19th century, and the building is now protected as a national cultural monument.

What is worth seeing inside?

The interior holds a handful of pieces that draw visitors' attention even more than the architecture itself. The Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows houses a retable altar from the 1730s, and its central glazed niche contains a Pieta dating back to the mid-13th century, flanked by Baroque angel figures. The main altar, meanwhile, is dominated by a painting over seven meters tall, the work of Steiner, a Jihlava-born painter who served as one of the court artists of Empress Maria Theresa. It's worth taking a moment for both of these — a rare pairing of medieval sculpture and Baroque painting under one roof.

Can you climb the tower?

Yes, and that is the main reason many visitors stop here beyond simply admiring the church. The northern tower, standing 63 meters tall, now functions as a lookout tower and has been open to the public since 1991. The viewing gallery sits at a height of 40 meters and offers a panorama over Jihlava and the surrounding hills of the Vysočina region. Access is typically available from Tuesday to Sunday, with guided tours running at set times throughout the day; outside the main season, visits can often be arranged by phone for organized groups. It's worth checking the current opening hours before your visit, since they shift with the season.

How do you get there?

The church stands right in the historic center of Jihlava, on James Square, just a few minutes' walk from the main Masaryk Square — nearly every route through the old town passes close by. Jihlava lies on the route between Prague and Brno, making it an easy stop whether you're traveling by train or by car from either direction.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the tower cost to visit? Ticket prices and current opening hours are best confirmed directly with the site administrator before your visit, as they can change with the season.

Is the church still used for services? Yes, it remains an active parish church with regular Mass services, and tourist visits are arranged around the liturgical schedule.

What is the oldest piece inside the church? The Pieta in the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows, dating from the mid-13th century — older than most of the church's current interior decoration.

Why is the southern tower shorter than the northern one? Because it had to be lowered by 9 meters after unstable ground caused it to lean out of vertical alignment.