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The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is a Roman Catholic parish church in the Czech town of Habry, located in the Havlíčkův Brod District of the Vysočina region. Its current Baroque shell conceals a history that reaches back to the Middle Ages.

Where did this church come from?

The building stands on the foundations of an earlier Romanesque church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, built in the 13th century by Benedictine monks from the Vilémov monastery. A walled-up portal on the northern side of the presbytery and part of the sacristy walls survive from that period — the oldest visible traces of the original structure.

Why did the church change its dedication?

The building was originally consecrated to Saints Peter and Paul. Its patron saint changed to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary after the Archbishopric of Prague granted permission following a reported miraculous event: the recovery of a lost child on August 15, the feast day of the Assumption. The church has carried this dedication ever since.

What damage has the church survived?

The building's history has been far from peaceful. It was likely burned in 1421, along with the Vilémov monastery, or possibly a year later in 1422, during the persecution of the Hussites by the troops of Sigismund of Luxembourg. Further blows came in the 17th century, when the church burned down twice and was also looted. Despite this string of disasters, it was rebuilt each time.

What does the church look like today?

The current Baroque form dates to 1678, when the earlier Romanesque church — dated to 1384 — was rebuilt. That Baroque reconstruction gave the building the appearance visitors see today, though the older Romanesque elements, the sealed portal and the sacristy masonry, remain as evidence of the earliest construction phase.

Where exactly is the church located?

Habry lies in the Havlíčkův Brod District of the Vysočina region, in central Bohemia. The church, as the town's architectural landmark, serves as a natural point of reference for visitors and is listed among the protected monuments of the Czech Republic.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Habry? Its history goes back to the 13th century, when Benedictine monks from Vilémov built a Romanesque church of Saints Peter and Paul on the site. The current Baroque form dates from 1678, after the reconstruction of the earlier building recorded from 1384.

Why is the church dedicated to the Assumption if it was originally consecrated to Peter and Paul? The dedication changed after a lost child was reportedly found on August 15, the feast day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The Archbishopric of Prague approved the new patronage in connection with this event.

Can visitors still see medieval parts of the church? Yes — a walled-up Romanesque portal survives on the northern side of the presbytery, and part of the sacristy walls date back to the original 13th-century building.

In which region are Habry and the church located? Habry is located in the Havlíčkův Brod District of the Vysočina region, in central Bohemia.