Saints Peter and Paul church in Řeporyje

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Řeporyje sits on a slight rise along the southern edge of the local square (Řeporyjské náměstí), and it's the oldest standing structure in this Prague district. A Roman Catholic subsidiary church, its core goes back to Romanesque architecture, even though the building you see today owes its outward appearance to a Baroque rebuild carried out in the late 18th century.

How old is the church, really?

The oldest surviving part is a Romanesque structure from the 12th century — originally a square central building ringed by four apses. A prismatic tower was added later and has survived every subsequent rebuild, still marking the church out on the square's skyline today. In 1352 the church was raised to parish status, meaning a resident parish priest was assigned to it rather than a clergyman travelling in from a neighboring parish.

Where does the Baroque look come from?

The appearance most visitors see now dates to a thorough 1772 reconstruction. It was funded by the church's patron at the time, the Jesuit order, and carried out by the builder Antonín Schmied. During the rebuild, three of the four original apses were torn down; the remaining apse, together with the square nave and the Romanesque tower, was folded into a new Baroque structure with a rectangular chancel. The result is a unified late-Baroque exterior wrapped around medieval masonry that's still there underneath.

A second significant building campaign followed at the turn of the 20th century: between 1900 and 1901, architect František Mach carried out a reconstruction of the older fabric of the church.

Is there a notable figure connected to the church?

Yes — between 1909 and 1912, Jindřich Šimon Baar served at the church in Řeporyje. Baar was a Catholic priest and one of the more significant Czech writers of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, best known for prose set in the Chodsko region of western Bohemia. This chapter of his life is recorded on a memorial plaque mounted on the wall that encircles the church, which also summarizes the building's history — from its Romanesque origins through Schmied's Baroque rebuild to Mach's later reconstruction.

What else is on the church grounds?

A wall encloses the church, and right beside it lies a cemetery that has served as a burial ground for generations of Řeporyje's original inhabitants. Together, the church and cemetery form the oldest and most recognizable historic ensemble in this part of Prague, clearly visible from the square they border.

How do you get to the church in Řeporyje?

Řeporyje lies on the southwestern edge of Prague. You can reach it by train from Praha-Smíchov station, or by bus lines 230, 249, 256, or 301 departing from the Luka metro station on line B. The church stands at the heart of the district, right on its main square, so it's usually a short walk from either the train station or the nearest bus stop.

Frequently asked questions

What denomination is the church in Řeporyje? It's a Roman Catholic subsidiary (filial) church, administered from a neighboring parish.

How old is the Church of Saints Peter and Paul? Its oldest, Romanesque section dates from the 12th century, making the building over 800 years old, though it has stood in its current Baroque form since 1772.

Is the church open to visitors? As a subsidiary church, it tends to open mainly around services, so it's worth checking current parish information before visiting.

What's next to the church? A historic cemetery enclosed by a wall that carries a memorial plaque summarizing the building's history.

Who rebuilt the church in the Baroque style? The 1772 reconstruction was financed by the Jesuit order, the church's patron at the time, and carried out by the builder Antonín Schmied.