Rotunda of Saint Catherine in Česká Třebová

The Rotunda of Saint Catherine in Česká Třebová is the oldest and most valuable architectural monument in this town in northeastern Bohemia. This small, late Romanesque chapel is the only preserved Romanesque rotunda in eastern Bohemia, and locals simply call it "Kostelíček" — the "Little Church."

When was the rotunda built, and why here?

The chapel dates from the first half of the 13th century and stands on a rise above the right bank of the Třebovka River. It was built at the center of a settlement founded after 1200 as part of the so-called Czech colonization, carried out by the Premonstratensian monastery in Litomyšl. The monks organized the settling and development of the area, and the newly built rotunda was meant to serve as the parish church for the emerging community.

What does the oldest surviving document say about it?

The first written mention of the chapel comes from 1335, in a Latin document issued by the mayor Lipolt, now kept in the state archive in Ústí nad Orlicí. In it, the mayor pledged to provide money for the chapel's upkeep, just as his father and grandfather had done before him. The document shows that caring for the rotunda was already a family tradition passed down through generations long before it was ever put in writing.

How has the building changed over the centuries?

Over more than 750 years, the rotunda has been repaired and rebuilt many times. The most visible change came in the 16th century, when a partly wooden bell tower was added; it still serves today as the entrance to the grounds surrounding the chapel. Thanks to these successive renovations, the rotunda has survived to the present day in a condition that still allows it to serve its original sacred function.

Can visitors see the rotunda today, and is it still used for services?

Yes — the rotunda continues to serve religious purposes. Services, church ceremonies and weddings are held there, and the space is also used for concerts. That makes it far more than a monument admired from the outside; it remains a living gathering place for the town's residents and visitors alike.

Why is the rotunda worth seeing in Česká Třebová?

The Rotunda of Saint Catherine is a unique example of Romanesque architecture, preserved in a form found nowhere else in eastern Bohemia, and it stands as a symbol of the town and its oldest history, reaching back to the early 13th century. Walking up to the rise above the Třebovka, where the little church with its wooden bell tower still stands, is one of the simplest ways to feel the medieval roots of Česká Třebová.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Rotunda of Saint Catherine? It dates from the first half of the 13th century, making it the oldest architectural monument in Česká Třebová.

Why is the rotunda called "Kostelíček"? It's a local, colloquial nickname used by residents of the town — it literally means "Little Church" and reflects both the building's small size and the town's fondness for it.

How do we know the rotunda already existed in the 14th century? A 1335 Latin document by mayor Lipolt, kept in the state archive in Ústí nad Orlicí, records his pledge to fund the chapel's upkeep, proving it was already an established institution by then.

Are any events still held at the rotunda today? Yes, besides religious services and weddings, concerts are held there too, which keeps the rotunda an actively used part of local community life.