Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Havlíčkův Brod

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Havlíčkův Brod is the town's Catholic deanery church, standing in the historic centre of Havlíčkův Brod in the Vysočina Region of the eastern Czech Republic. It is the oldest and most important church in the town and should not be confused with two other churches located in Havlíčkův Brod: the Hussite church near the main square and the Church of Saint Catherine, both of which have entirely different histories and architecture.

How old is the church in Havlíčkův Brod?

The building dates back to the last quarter of the 13th century and was originally built in the early Gothic style. Around 1380 the tower and the southern part of the church were added, and by the early 15th century the entire church had been vaulted. In 1422, during the Hussite Wars, the church was burned by the Hussites, an event that set off a long series of repairs and rebuilding phases over the following centuries.

How has the building changed over the centuries?

In 1570 the tower was raised by an additional storey, giving it the massive silhouette that still dominates the town's rooftops today. Between 1633 and 1637 the church was rebuilt as a single-nave structure, and the tower itself was repaired at the same time. A further round of construction took place between 1706 and 1709, when a dome was added above the presbytery, along with a new sacristy and a chapel at the end of the presbytery. The building is now protected as a cultural heritage monument.

What is kept inside the church tower?

The most distinctive feature of the church is its massive Gothic tower, topped with a viewing gallery open to visitors. The tower houses the Vilém bell, cast in the 1330s and considered one of the oldest surviving bells in the Czech Republic. The fact that the bell survived both the 1422 fire and centuries of subsequent rebuilding makes it one of the more valuable movable heritage items in the region.

Why is it worth climbing the tower?

The viewing gallery on the church tower is one of the few spots in Havlíčkův Brod offering a bird's-eye view of the entire old town and the surrounding hills of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. From up there, visitors can take in both the historic main square and the wider layout of the town, making the climb a natural addition to a walk through the centre. Given the age of the structure and its narrow staircase, it is worth allowing extra time beyond simply viewing the church from outside.

Who is this church worth visiting for?

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary will appeal to anyone exploring the historic centre of Havlíčkův Brod, fans of Gothic sacred architecture, and travelers building an itinerary around the heritage sites of the Vysočina Region. It also makes a good starting point for further sightseeing in town, since several other, entirely separate churches stand nearby — so it is worth checking in advance exactly which church you intend to see.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the church in Havlíčkův Brod? Its origins go back to the last quarter of the 13th century, though the building as it stands today is the result of multiple rebuilding phases carried out up to the early 18th century.

What is kept in the church tower? The tower holds the Vilém bell, cast in the 1330s and one of the oldest surviving bells in the Czech Republic, as well as a viewing gallery open to visitors.

Is this the same church as the nearby Hussite church or the Church of Saint Catherine in Havlíčkův Brod? No. These are three separate churches in the same town with different histories, denominations and architecture — the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is the oldest and the main deanery church.

What happened to the church in 1422? During the Hussite Wars the building was burned by the Hussites, which triggered further phases of reconstruction that continued into the 18th century.