Church of Saint Roch, Baroque church in Žižkov, Prague, Czech Republic
The Church of Saint Roch is a baroque building in Žižkov featuring a distinctive elliptical dome and arcades between columns that support a gallery beneath the curved ceiling. The interior is shaped by a Neo-Renaissance altarpiece from 1760 depicting the Virgin Mary with patron saints.
Construction began in 1680 during a plague epidemic, when the Old Town Council required new burial grounds outside Prague city walls. The building stands on land originally designated for this purpose and represents the city's response to needs during this crisis.
The church honors Saint Roch, the patron saint against plague, reflecting its origins during an epidemic. Visitors today can still sense this connection to the past by observing artistic depictions of plague scenes throughout the interior.
The church sits on Olsany Square in green open spaces after removal of former cemetery walls and a rectory. The square is easily accessible on foot and offers plenty of room to walk around and explore the surroundings.
Inside is a Baroque tin baptismal font from 1595 made by tinsmith Matthew Voříška, the oldest preserved object in the church. This rare piece survived the centuries and shows the craftsmanship from a time before the church building itself was constructed.
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