Saint Giles Church

Nymburk, Czech Republic

Saint Giles Church on the Kostelní Square in the centre of Nymburk was built probably in the 13th century, as well as the surrounding town. However, there are no preserved sources confirming its origins. The church is a three nave basilica with a long chancel and a tower in the front. There was also a second tower, but now there are only its remains.

The temple is an example of brick Gothic architecture, except of a few parts which are made from sandstone. Its thin tower reaches 66 metres and together with mediaeval ramparts creates a characteristic silhouette of the town. The dean's church was initially dedicated to Saint Nicholas, during the Thirty Years' War the dedication changed to Saint Giles. The church is a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

The church has many interesting and valuable things inside. The most valuable one is a plastic of the first patron St. Nicholas, made of stone. The plastic probably came from the workshop of a sculptor Peter Parler (the 14th century) but it might be even older than that. Most of church's equipment is in the Baroque style. The main altar in the front is from 1704.

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Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Religious sites in Czech Republic

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

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4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Zuzana Dobrohrušková (2 years ago)
Gothic Church of St. Jiljí is a beautiful landmark of the royal city of Nymburk. However, other sights such as the walls, the Renaissance water tower, Přemyslovců Square with the plague column of the town hall and also the Chapel of St. Jan Nepomucký. The monuments are well described and signposts show the way to them. I highly recommend the city tour, it's really worth it.
Martina Nováková (2 years ago)
So today we climbed the church tower and it's an experience ? You can buy tickets at the IC in the square. Adults for 50 CZK and children for 20 CZK The climb is really for the fit, but the view of the city is worth it and we also had a nice explanation.
Мгер Симонян (2 years ago)
The Church of St. Giles (or Giles) is located on Kostelnaya (Church) Square in the historical part of Nymburk. Unfortunately, there are no sources confirming the construction time of the temple itself, but according to the researchers, it was probably built in the 13th century almost simultaneously with the founding of the city. The church is a three-nave basilica with a long altar and a tower in front. Previously, there was a second tower, but now only fragments of it have survived. The church itself was built in stages, in this regard, it contains several different architectural styles. The oldest of these is the early Gothic presbytery, dating from the second half of the 13th century. The south portal entered the altar, the portal had a high-profile gothic lancet arch. At the same time, the northern sacristy, the northern chapel of the Virgin Mary of Vienna, was built. In 1343, during a fire, the church burned down and was rebuilt. Apparently, the basilica naves and the north brick tower, which was called "red" or "old", were added during this period. During the reign of King Charles IV, a south tower was added, known as the "white" because it was built of sandstone. At the same time, the rectangular chapel of St. Dorothy was built at the south side of the altar. The youngest parts of the church are the southern and northern vestibules, which were built by the side entrances around 1500. During the Thirty Years' War, on August 16, 1634, Nymburk was occupied by the Saxons. They broke through the north gate of the church and killed almost 200 people hiding inside. After this tragic event, the northern entrance of the temple was closed forever. A memorial plaque placed on the wall of the church is a reminder of this tragedy. After the end of the Thirty Years' War, the design of the presbytery was changed, over which a baroque vault appeared. After a big fire in the city in 1838, in 1846, the "red" tower was lowered to the level of the crowning cornice of the main nave, as it was badly damaged and there was a threat of its complete collapse. An important stage in the construction development of the church is its restoration under the leadership of Camille Gilbert in 1913-1918, who approached it comprehensively and in accordance with the latest technology for caring for monuments at that time. They took into account all the previous stages. As a result, he removed unsuitable 19th-century neo-Gothic modifications and added missing details. The building was also enriched with unique works of eminent artists. Today the temple is included in the register of cultural monuments of the Czech Republic and is a unique example of brick church architecture.
Markéta Tomčíková (3 years ago)
Beautiful view of the city. The tower is open to the public. More information on the Nymburk Tourist Information Center website.
Haruth Mansuryan (4 years ago)
Beautiful place
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