Saint John of Nepomuk church in Železný Brod

The Church of St. John of Nepomuk in Železný Brod is a Baroque sacred building perched on a steep slope above the left bank of the Jizera River, in a spot known locally as "Na poušti," south of the town centre. Liturgically the building is a chapel, though its size means locals and visitors alike usually refer to it as a church. Set high above the town, it is visible from much of Železný Brod and forms one of the most recognisable landmarks in the local skyline.

How did the church come to be built?

The story begins in 1689, when a farmer named Vorsa from nearby Brodce built a hermitage with a small chapel on the hillside. The turning point came during the Seven Years' War, when Count Karel Josef Des Fours took shelter here and survived. In gratitude, he initiated the construction of a masonry Baroque church dedicated to St. John of Nepomuk in 1769. The design is attributed to the architect J. J. Volkert, although the full extent of his involvement is not firmly documented. The site quickly became a pilgrimage destination for devotees of the saint, and its elevated, secluded position reinforced its character as a place of retreat and contemplation.

What is worth seeing inside?

The church's outstanding artistic feature is its preserved illusionistic altar, executed in the late Baroque style using the fresco secco technique — painting applied to dry plaster to create the appearance of a fully three-dimensional altar structure. It is a rare and valuable example of this approach in the region. In 1860, a family crypt of the Des Fours-Walderode line was also built beneath the church floor, underscoring the family's lasting connection to the site for nearly a century after its founding.

How do you get to the church?

The church sits roughly 1.6 kilometres from the centre of Železný Brod, but the distance involves a substantial climb rather than a flat walk. Visitors can take a short, very steep path branching off Pelechovská Street (road II/292), or follow a longer approach marked as a green hiking trail. Given the incline, it is worth allowing extra time and wearing suitable footwear, especially in wet weather.

Can you visit the church today?

After 1945 the building gradually fell into disrepair. The turnaround came through a local initiative: since 1993, a group of volunteers organised into a preservation society has carried out ongoing restoration work. The church is now listed as a protected cultural monument of the Czech Republic. Because of its condition and the way access is managed, the interior is mainly open to visitors during events organised by the restoration society — these include classical music concerts, which take advantage of the building's fine acoustics, and pilgrimages, revived in 1997 after a long hiatus. Details on current dates can be obtained from the Roman Catholic parish in Železný Brod at telephone number 482 389 223.

Frequently asked questions

Is it a church or a chapel? Formally it is a chapel, but given its size and its standing in local tradition, it is commonly called a church.

How far is the church from the town centre? About 1.6 kilometres, but the route climbs steeply uphill, so the walk takes longer than the distance alone would suggest.

Is the interior always open to visitors? No — access is mainly limited to concerts, pilgrimages, and other events organised by the society responsible for the building's restoration.

What is the most valuable feature of the interior? The late Baroque illusionistic altar painted using the fresco secco technique, together with the 1860 Des Fours-Walderode family crypt beneath the church.