Church of Saint James the Greater, Catholic church building in Staré Město, Jičín, Czech Republic.
The Church of Saint James the Greater stands as a three-aisled basilica with an elevated chancel, featuring Baroque architectural elements that dominate its current appearance after extensive 18th-century renovations.
Originally founded in the 13th century for the Franciscan order, the church was completely rebuilt in Baroque style following a devastating fire in 1689 that destroyed the original Gothic structure.
The church houses over twenty altars decorated with paintings by renowned Baroque artists including Jan Jiří Heinsch, Václav Vavřinec Reiner, and Petr Brandl, representing significant religious artistic heritage.
Visitors can explore the church interior and attend organ concerts featuring the historic 1705 instrument with four manuals, 91 stops, and over 8,000 pipes during regular opening hours.
A mummified forearm displayed near the entrance allegedly belongs to a thief whose arm was caught and severed by a statue of the Virgin Mary during an attempted robbery.
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