Church of Saint James the Greater, Gothic parish church in Čížová, Czech Republic
The Church of Saint James the Greater is a single-nave rectangular building without a tower, topped only by a small ridge turret (sanktusník). It stands on a hill above Čížová, about 250 metres from the village edge. The narrower square presbytery has a groin vault, the nave a barrel vault, and a later rectangular porch projects from the south wall.
The church likely existed in the 13th century, as some architectural elements linked to the Písek–Zvíkov building workshop suggest, but the first written mention dates from 1407. In 1571 the knight Ludvík Lorecký of Lkouš and his sons were buried in a crypt here after being killed by a group of subjects from Šamonice; the crypt was later filled in and their remains moved to the church porch. A separate Renaissance bell tower was added in 1544, and a Baroque cemetery chapel followed in the 18th century.
The church is the parish church of the Roman Catholic parish of Čížová in the Diocese of České Budějovice. Its patronal feast of Saint James the Greater is the occasion for the annual parish celebration, and the church is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.
The church is located in the center of Čížová village and is easily accessible on foot after arriving by regional bus service. Visitors should plan their visit around regular worship times to experience the interior fully.
The church has no tower: the separate Renaissance bell tower in the churchyard is sometimes called a chaplain's house, and it was added to the church and cemetery grounds in 1544. The church itself carries only a small roof turret (sanktusník).
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