Church of Saint John the Baptist, Religious monument in Velká Chyška, Czech Republic.
The Church of Saint John the Baptist is a Neo-Romanesque single-nave building on a Latin-cross plan with a five-sided presbytery and sacristy. A prismatic tower with a pyramidal spire rises on the west facade, and a small sanctus bell turret sits above the presbytery. It was built in 1897–1898 to plans by architect František Rožánek and builder Alois Potůček.
The village of villa Cisca was first recorded in 1143, when Duke Vladislav II gave it to the Premonstratensian monastery at Strahov. The monks built a Romanesque church, later rebuilt as a single-nave Gothic church with a square tower; the Gothic church burned in 1698, was restored in 1699, and was demolished in 1897 as too small. The present church was built in 1897–1898 under the Strahov Premonstratensians.
The church is a filial church of the Pacov parish and is protected as a cultural monument. Its main altar is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, and part of the interior furnishings was transferred from the earlier church and dates from the 18th century. The adjoining baroque parish house was painted by the Premonstratensian artist Siard Nosecký.
The building sits on elevated ground and is accessible by local roads connecting to the surrounding area. Access and opening times may depend on local arrangements, so visitors should check ahead for current information about visiting.
A 1578 Renaissance tombstone of Kateřina Bernička z Kraselova is set into the outer wall of the presbytery, bearing a coat of arms with an incomplete hat and a Czech inscription. It was taken from the earlier Gothic church demolished in 1897.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,613 contributors worldwide.