Kolín - Church - Church of Saint Bartholomew 08
The Church of St Bartholomew has a well deserved place in the list of the National Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic, as it is one of the biggest and visually most impressive examples of Gothic architecture in the Central Bohemian Region. The beginnings of the building are related to the history of the town of Kolín itself, founded in the 1350s on the order of King Přemysl Otakar II. It is likely that foreign architects of the Hessen-Westphalian school took part in the initial stages of the project and the early Gothic choir, the Crypt of the Holy Spirit and part of the three naves were built under their direction. Local Přemyslid craftsmen and builders were involved in the next phase of construction from the 1370s to 1390s, when the three naves were finished and the two spires of the West façade were built. Northern French, Thüringien and Saxon influences can be identified in their work. In 1349 the whole town, including the Church of St Bartholomew, was severely damaged by fire. In 1360 reconstruction commenced under the direction of the court architect of King Karel IV and the author of the High Gothic remodelling of St Vitus Cathedral in Prague, Petr Parléř. One of the most important enterprises of Parléř’s time was the building of the high choir surrounded by radial chapels, which gave the church an almost cathedral-like appearance. The church was consecrated in 1378 but the building work continued. The initial intent of Petr Parléř was to rebuild all three naves, but this did not happen. By the beginning of the 15th century his followers completed the Chapel of the Virgin Mary (later known as Kokovská chapel) in the area of the south facing aisle. During the Hussite wars and the years that followed until the Battle of Bílá Hora in 1620, the Church of St Bartholomew fell into the hands of the Utraquist (or Calixtine) religious sect. During this time the northern spire became unstable and in 1504 it was decided to add to it a square based bell tower. During the Thirty Years’ War (1618 – 1648) the Church of St Bartholomew was, together with most of the important sites in the Lands of the Bohemian Crown, ransacked by the Swedish army and the severely damaged interior was not restored until the 18th century. Consequently, the altars of the church are mostly in the Baroque and Rococo style. The church was a victim of further fires, in 1796 and 1869, when the roof and parts of the interior were damaged. Towards the end of the 19th century significant Neo-Gothic alterations took place under the project architects Josef Mocker and Ludvík Lábler. The reconstruction was ceremonially concluded in 1910. Further disturbance to the building occurred towards the end of the World War II, when, as a consequence of bombing in the immediate vicinity, the church roof and valuable stained glass windows were damaged. Restoration of the church started in 1963 and during following years various partial renovations took place.
Kolín - Church - Church of Saint Bartholomew 08
The Church of St Bartholomew has a well deserved place in the list of the National Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic, as it is one of the biggest and visually most impressive examples of Gothic architecture in the Central Bohemian Region. The beginnings of the building are related to the history of the town of Kolín itself, founded in the 1350s on the order of King Přemysl Otakar II. It is likely that foreign architects of the Hessen-Westphalian school took part in the initial stages of the project and the early Gothic choir, the Crypt of the Holy Spirit and part of the three naves were built under their direction. Local Přemyslid craftsmen and builders were involved in the next phase of construction from the 1370s to 1390s, when the three naves were finished and the two spires of the West façade were built. Northern French, Thüringien and Saxon influences can be identified in their work. In 1349 the whole town, including the Church of St Bartholomew, was severely damaged by fire. In 1360 reconstruction commenced under the direction of the court architect of King Karel IV and the author of the High Gothic remodelling of St Vitus Cathedral in Prague, Petr Parléř. One of the most important enterprises of Parléř’s time was the building of the high choir surrounded by radial chapels, which gave the church an almost cathedral-like appearance. The church was consecrated in 1378 but the building work continued. The initial intent of Petr Parléř was to rebuild all three naves, but this did not happen. By the beginning of the 15th century his followers completed the Chapel of the Virgin Mary (later known as Kokovská chapel) in the area of the south facing aisle. During the Hussite wars and the years that followed until the Battle of Bílá Hora in 1620, the Church of St Bartholomew fell into the hands of the Utraquist (or Calixtine) religious sect. During this time the northern spire became unstable and in 1504 it was decided to add to it a square based bell tower. During the Thirty Years’ War (1618 – 1648) the Church of St Bartholomew was, together with most of the important sites in the Lands of the Bohemian Crown, ransacked by the Swedish army and the severely damaged interior was not restored until the 18th century. Consequently, the altars of the church are mostly in the Baroque and Rococo style. The church was a victim of further fires, in 1796 and 1869, when the roof and parts of the interior were damaged. Towards the end of the 19th century significant Neo-Gothic alterations took place under the project architects Josef Mocker and Ludvík Lábler. The reconstruction was ceremonially concluded in 1910. Further disturbance to the building occurred towards the end of the World War II, when, as a consequence of bombing in the immediate vicinity, the church roof and valuable stained glass windows were damaged. Restoration of the church started in 1963 and during following years various partial renovations took place.