kostel svaté Kateřiny

Kostel svaté Kateřiny (Church of Saint Catherine) is a baroque church in Kunčice, a small village that today forms part of the town of Letohrad, in the Ústí nad Orlicí district of the Czech Republic. It stands on the eastern edge of Letohrad, roughly 4.5 km from the town centre, and remains one of the notable religious landmarks of this part of the country.

How to get there?

Kunčice lies on the south-eastern edge of Letohrad, in the foothills of the Orlické Mountains, close to the Polish border. The easiest way to reach the village is by car from the centre of Letohrad, a drive of just a few minutes. The area also makes a convenient base for exploring the valley of the Divoká Orlice river and the hiking trails leading toward the Orlické Mountains.

What will you see?

The present stone church was built in 1685 by Count Leopold Libštejnský of Kolovrat, replacing an earlier, small wooden chapel on the same site. It is a single-nave, oriented church on a rectangular ground plan, with an offset rectangular presbytery and a tower on the western façade. The walls were built using mixed masonry, and the roof combines a gabled form with a hipped section above the tower.

Above the main entrance, the coats of arms of two noble families — the Kolovrats and the Harasovs — were placed to commemorate their role in building and maintaining the church. For structural reasons, the building was reconstructed in 1761, giving it much of its present appearance.

The interior was further enriched in 1785, when the main altar was restored and fitted with an image of Saint Catherine, the church's patron, along with a new tabernacle. At the same time, two side altars were added, featuring images of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino and Saint Barbara, both venerated locally as protectors invoked for intercession.

The church is also tied to a local legend about pious sisters and the support the Kolovrat and Harasov families were said to have received during the building and rebuilding of the church — a story still passed down in the surrounding villages.

When to visit?

Kunčice and the wider Letohrad area are best visited in spring and summer, when longer days are ideal for trips through the Orlické foothills and visits to the surrounding villages. As the church belongs to an active parish, it is primarily open during services — it is worth checking current mass times with the Roman Catholic parish in Letohrad before visiting.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Saint Catherine, the church's patron? Saint Catherine of Alexandria is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic tradition, regarded as a patron of philosophers and students — her image is displayed on the main altar of the church in Kunčice.

When was the current church built? The stone building was constructed in 1685 at the initiative of Count Leopold Libštejnský of Kolovrat, replacing an earlier wooden chapel. It was reconstructed in 1761 for structural reasons.

What can be seen inside the church? The main altar with an image of Saint Catherine and a tabernacle dating from 1785, along with two side altars dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Tolentino and Saint Barbara.

Where exactly is Kunčice located? It is a village that forms part of the town of Letohrad, in the Ústí nad Orlicí district in the eastern Czech Republic, close to the Polish border.