The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, also known as Neratov Church, is one of Bohemia’s most unique buildings.
The story of the baroque church dates back to the 17th century. At the time, the village was a popular pilgrimage site because of a carved statue of the Virgin Mary. While the journey isn’t quite as prevalent as before, the house of worship and its glass rook are once again gaining notoriety.
You can attribute the current design of the church to modern day restoration and a little bit of luck. At the end of WWII it burned down and later on during communist times, it was set to be demolished. However, due to a lack of funding to destroy it, the church was able to escape being leveled to the ground.
Declared a national monument in 1992, it has undergone extensive renovations since.
THE INSIDE OF NERATOV CHURCH
The first thing you’ll notice when walking in Neratov Church is the fantastic and captivating see-through rooftop. On a sunny day, the whole interior lights up and shadows from the wood beams and decorations dance off the stone walls.
It wasn’t always this way though.
In the early 2000’s the towers, clock and interior masonry were finally rebuilt and rehabilitated. But, it wasn’t until 2007 that the iconic roof was finally added.
If you want a closer look at the famous design, you’ll have to walk the stairs in the tower. They lead to an indoor balcony that comes face to face with the glass panels. Up here, you’ll get a wonderful view of the entire inside of the church.
The roof is beyond beautiful on a sunny day.
AROUND THE BEAUTIFUL CHURCH
I’m pretty comfortable saying that Neratov is one of my favorite places in Central Europe. It’s taken an obscure tourist attraction and revamped the whole village around it. And, it’s done it while being one of the Czech Republic’s three largest employers of people with disabilities.
Some of the amazing things the Neratov Association has done can be seen throughout town. You’ll find a garden below the church and a pub just down the street. There’s also the small microbrewery next to a bridge that allows you to take a walk into Poland. Aptly named Neratov Brewery, it serves a selection of local craft beers. I suggest grabbing a to-go drink and crossing the bridge for a little walk across the border.
Just outside of Neratov, there are a ton of amazing hiking trails in the Orlicke Mountains. The forest covered terrain is known for its WWII bunkers and gorgeous views of the region.
If you’re looking for some more detail about what to do in Neratov, check out this article here.
Where is Neratov?
If you haven’t picked up on it by now, Neratov is in Eastern Bohemia directly on the Czech and Polish border. It lies right off of Route 311, near the Orlicke Mountains.
Trains don’t pass by the village, so the best way to get there is by car. Although, if you’re big on cycling, this area has wonderful roads and bike paths to explore.
Neratov Church and the tiny village it calls home are definitely worth a visit. If you’re looking to get off the beaten track in the Czech Republic make sure to give the magnificent building a visit!
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