Church of Saint Gotthard, Church building in Slaný, Czech Republic

The Church of Saint Gotthard is a Gothic three-nave church with a long presbytery closed by a net and star vault, a sacristy finished by 1520, and a western tower. The tower keeps part of the Romanesque block masonry of the earlier basilica, visible in the north nave attic.

Benedictine monks from the Ostrov monastery founded the church in the 12th century; a Romanesque three-nave basilica stood on the site before the end of that century. The Gothic west tower was added in the second half of the 14th century, followed by the north aisle, main nave and a new presbytery. Taborite troops took the town at Easter 1425 and burned some defenders in the tower.

The church's name comes from Saint Gotthard, abbot of Niederaltaich, to whom the Ostrov Benedictines had close ties. In the late-Gothic presbytery, wall paintings show Christ holding a chalice, a symbol of Communion under both kinds, flanked by angels with the Arma Christi and the Evangelists, completed in the early 17th century.

The building is accessible from outside and allows visitors to explore the architectural features and interior space. When visiting inside, be aware that prayer services may be taking place and respectful behavior is expected.

The original late Gothic roof trusses of the nave and presbytery survive, and the west entrance keeps wooden doors with carved blind tracery from the second half of the 15th century. In the tower hangs a bell frame from 1496 with three bells: Gothard (1494), Vojtěch (1508) and Erasmus (1545).