Church of Saint James the Greater, Romanesque church in Chvojen, Czech Republic

The Church of Saint James the Greater consists of a wide, short nave (20 × 8 m) with a barrel vault, a prismatic tower raised in later centuries, and a square presbytery with a cross vault. The nave and the lower part of the tower, which contains a staircase within the wall, are the oldest parts. Renaissance epitaphs are set into the walls and a 14th-century tile floor lies in the nave.

Construction began in the late 1200s as an early example of religious architecture in the region. The building was expanded and modified over the following centuries, with those changes still visible today.

The interior displays layers of different construction periods that show how building styles changed over time. Local residents still gather here for services and community celebrations, keeping the church active in everyday village life.

The location is best explored on foot, especially considering the sloped terrain around the tower structure. Check in advance whether public access is available, as the building is sometimes closed to visitors.

The tower's lower section is among the oldest masonry, with a staircase built inside the thickness of the wall. Its present height and paired neo-Romanesque windows date from Josef Mocker's 1904 restoration, so the tower is not wholly medieval.