- Address: Brandlova, 280 02 Kolín, Czech Republic
- Phone: +420 321 721 414
- Website: bartolomej-kolin.cz
The church of St. Bartholomew is the main attraction of the Czech city of Colin . It is still unknown when exactly it was built, but this does not prevent it from being a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic.
History of St. Bartholomew's Church
Due to the fact that up to the 20th century the Early Gothic cathedral changed many times, scientists still can not determine the exact date of its construction. They can not even understand whether it is right on the soil or on the foundation. In 1349 in the church of St. Bartholomew there was a severe fire, after which he needed a serious reconstruction. She was engaged in one of the most famous architects in Prague and Europe - Peter Parlerzh, representative of the dynasty of architects. It was thanks to him that the original element of Gothic architecture was erected - the choir.
In 1395 and 1796 the church of St. Bartholomew again suffered from crushing fires, after which it was again reconstructed. At different times, the restoration was carried out by architects Ludwik Lubler and Josef Motzker.
Exterior of St. Bartholomew's Church
The western wall of the temple plays the role of the main facade, since it was here that the entrance to the building was installed. It is a smooth and massive enclosure, practically not divided into blocks. The portal of St. Bartholomew's Church is completed by double-leafed doors finished in late Baroque style. The middle part of the facade ends with a forceps, to which eight-side towers adjoin.
The northern wall of St. Bartholomew's church also has a smooth surface, but, unlike the western facade, it is divided into 6 blocks. There are 2 portals here. One of them is the entrance to the temple.
The nine-sided choir of St. Bartholomew's church has 18 corners, each of which is decorated with double-sided pylons. In its upper part there are figures of gargoyles and a gallery with spiral staircases with a balustrade and arkbutans.
The interior of St. Bartholomew's Church
Due to the fact that the cathedral consists of two buildings built at different times, there are also significant differences in its interior. The basis of this early-gothic temple consists of three naves (northern, central, southern) and a transept (perpendicular nave).
The interior of St. Bartholomew's church is decorated with decorative elements of different times and architectural styles. Here you can see:
- Baroque benches for believers, which were used in the churches of the XVII century;
- pseudo-Gothic main altar of 1910;
- pastophorium, restored in 1910;
- a tombstone belonging to the Rukhtand dynasty;
- paintings by Joseph Kramolin in 1801, depicting the Saints of Vojtěch and Prokop.
During the tour of St. Bartholomew's Church, you can visit the chapels dedicated to St. Wenceslas and Jan. There is also a chapel of the snowman, the brewer and the miller. Another priceless treasure of this Gothic cathedral are the stained glass windows created by Peter Parlerge. Now they have been replaced by copies, and the originals are exhibited in the National Gallery .
How to get to the church?
The Gothic cathedral is located in the heart of the Czech city of Colin . It can be seen even at the entrance to the city and from any Kolinsky district. You can get to St. Bartholomew's Church by bus or car. Less than 200 m from it there is a bus stop Kolín, Družstevní dům, which stops routes Nos. 421 and 424. It is also connected with the roads Politických vězňů and Zámecká. If you follow them from the city center in the south-west direction, you can reach the cathedral in 3-5 minutes.