Church of Birth of Virgin Mary in Písek

The parish church in Písek is one of the best-preserved architectonic monuments of the early Gothic style in Bohemia. It is one of the works of the great stone-mason works in Písek and Zvíkov which also participated in many other building activities of King Přemysl Otakar II. Constriction of the church was initiated in the first half of the 13th century in the form of a classic three-nave basilica. In 1741-1743 the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk was added to the southern nave of the church. The most significant intervention in the preserved early Gothic architecture of the church was the construction of a monumental 74-meter tall bell tower at the end of the 15th century that was included in the southwestern corner of the church, and after its construction it became a real dominant of the town. Late Roman and early Gothic wall paintings can be seen on the pillars inside the church.

Attraction:

As a cost-saving measure, the church clock hands are fitted reversely – the small one shows the minutes and the large one shows the hours. It is said that this was to enable the people to see the time better from distant fields. Full hours were more important than minutes to our predecessors.

Back