Saint James the Greater church (Vysoký Újezd nad Dědinou)

The Church of St. James the Greater stands on a hilltop in Vysoký Újezd nad Dědinou, a small village in the Hradec Králové district, and has been the most recognizable landmark of the area for centuries. Today it functions as a filial church belonging to the parish of Třebechovice pod Orebem, and it is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

How old is the church?

Historians date the church's origin to the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries. This chronology was proposed by the Czech art historian Václav Mencl, based on his analysis of the surviving Romanesque portal — the stonework details are what allowed experts to date the building, since written sources from that period are practically nonexistent. Originally it was a modest, single-nave church with an apse facing east and a tower on the west side, a layout typical of Romanesque village churches in Bohemia.

What can you see there today?

The building's shape reveals a long history of renovations. The vault visible inside today dates from a thorough reconstruction carried out in 1885. During that work the church was remodeled in a Romantic, neo-Romanesque-inspired style, and four new windows were cut into the nave, bringing light into what had previously been a dim interior. Despite these changes, the site's urban layout — the church occupying a dominant position at the top of a hill, at an elevation of 318 meters above sea level — still reflects the original Romanesque design. It is visible from a distance, and its hilltop location was a deliberate choice by its builders: the church was meant to tower over the surrounding countryside and be seen from every side of the village.

How do you get there?

Vysoký Újezd nad Dědinou lies in the Hradec Králové region, close to Třebechovice pod Orebem, the town its parish administratively belongs to. It's a small settlement, so arriving by car is the most convenient option — the hilltop church is visible from the approach road and serves as a natural landmark for the whole area. Its approximate coordinates are 50.2402N, 16.0207E.

Who is this place for?

This is a stop for lovers of sacred architecture and the history of the Hradec Králové region who are looking for authentic, off-the-beaten-path monuments. The church isn't a grand attraction on the scale of a cathedral, but that's exactly where its value lies — it's a modest, well-preserved example of rural Romanesque architecture with clearly visible traces of its 19th-century remodeling, set within the landscape of a small village.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the church in Vysoký Újezd? Historians date its origin to the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries, based on analysis of the surviving Romanesque portal.

Is it still an active parish church? No, it currently serves as a filial church within the parish of Třebechovice pod Orebem — it was previously a parish church in its own right.

What changed during the 1885 reconstruction? A new vault was installed, the church was remodeled in a Romantic, neo-Romanesque style, and four windows were added to the nave to bring in more light.

Is the church a legally protected monument? Yes, it is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.