Church of Saint Mary Magelene

The original medieval Gothic Church of Saint Mary Magdalene surrounded by a cemetery was built in the second half of the 14th century on a small hill above the Hot Spring in the centre of Karlovy Vary. It was rebuilt in Renaissance style in 1518. In the early 18th century, the church was in a very poor condition as a result of several fires. It was thus designated for demolition and a new church was to be built on its site. The foundation stone of the new church was laid on 27 April 1733. The decanal Church of Saint Mary Magdalene was built in high Baroque style between the years 1733 and 1736 according to the design of renowned Czech architect Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer.The final stone was placed in the church lantern by Dean Ottický on 1 October 1736. The magnificent tabernacle was declared a National Cultural Monument in 2010. In the interior, you may admire a richly decorated Baroque altar from the 18th century. While visiting the church, you should not miss the unique funeral crypt in the original Gothic underground, which houses the skeletal remains from the former cemetery. Read More