Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Late Gothic church in Trhové Sviny, Czech Republic

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Trhové Sviny is an early Gothic church from the late 13th century, rebuilt in the second half of the 15th century into nearly its present form. It has a three-aisle layout with a polygonal presbytery and a massive southern tower with a chapel of St. Barbara on the ground floor.

The church originated in the second half of the 13th century; Přemysl Otakar II presented a priest here in 1278 and the dedication took place in 1280. A late Gothic rebuild in the second half of the 15th century gave it almost its present form, as a stone plaque above the south portal dated 1485 records. The castle that Ojíř of Sviny founded was dismantled by 1480 and its masonry was used for the church rebuild.

The south tower's ground floor holds the Chapel of St Barbara, built in the last quarter of the 14th century. Its vault carries a nun-shaped tracery and a keystone with the five-petalled rose of the Rožmberk family. The tower served the town community, and its first floor, lit by narrow barred windows, was probably a depository for town and parish property.

The church is located in the old town center of Trhové Sviny and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors should know this is an active place of worship, so touring works best outside of service times.

The south tower's ground floor holds the Chapel of St Barbara, whose vault has a tracery in the shape of a nun and a five-petalled rose boss, the emblem of the Rožmberk family. The tower was used mainly by the town community.