Pilgrimage Church of St John of Nepomuk at Zelená Hora

Why visit

Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel’s extraordinary star-shaped pilgrimage church above Žďár nad Sázavou. Built in the early eighteenth century, the church combines Baroque and Gothic ideas in a highly symbolic five-pointed plan devoted to St John of Nepomuk. It is included because it adds a distinctive experience to a realistic Žďár nad Sázavou or regional itinerary rather than acting as a filler stop.

What you will see

• Five-pointed ground plan.
• Santini’s Baroque Gothic design.
• Hilltop cloister ring.

History

Built in the early eighteenth century, the church combines Baroque and Gothic ideas in a highly symbolic five-pointed plan devoted to St John of Nepomuk.

Photographs

Anna Prokopová · CC BY 2.0 · full attribution on the image credits page.

Visitor tips

1. 1

   Respect services and private prayer.

2. 2

   Walk the outer cloister to understand the geometry before entering.

3. 3

   Combine with Žďár rather than treating the church as an all-day stop.

About East Bohemia & Vysočina

Renaissance towns, Litomyšl and Zelená Hora.