Church of Saint John of Nepomuk in Kutná Hora, Baroque church in Kutná Hora, Czech Republic

The Church of Saint John of Nepomuk is a Baroque church in Kutná Hora, designed by František Maxmilián Kaňka and built from 1734, with the vault painting by František Xaver Palko. Its facade niches hold stone statues of Saints Adalbert and Procopius, and the interior is lined with carved polychrome figures of the Czech patron saints.

Construction began on 16 May 1734, the feast of Saint John of Nepomuk, to a design by František Maxmilián Kaňka, with Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer later influencing the final form. Work halted from 1735 to 1739 for lack of money and again during the Prussian troop movements of 1745. The church was consecrated on 5 August 1753 by arcdeacon Václav Jindřich Erythreius.

The church's main theme is the "Czech Heaven": wooden polychrome statues of Czech patron saints (Sts Cosmas and Damian, Ivan and Norbert, Vitus and Sigismund, Wenceslas, Ludmila) were carved around 1750, probably by František Bernard Katterbauer and Karel Ebler. The ceiling painting by F. X. Palka shows the apotheosis of John of Nepomuk.

The church is located in the center of Kutná Hora and is typically easily accessible on foot from the town center. Visitors should note that baroque churches can feel quite dark inside, so it helps to let your eyes adjust to the interior light.

The ceiling painting by F. X. Palka shows the examination of John's tongue in St Vitus Cathedral after his grave was opened; the bishop lifts the intact tongue on a golden tray while a doctor in black looks on. The mirror of the vault above the choir loft depicts the handing over of the bull of canonisation.