Church of St. James the Greater – Česká Kamenice

Church of St. James the Greater forms the dominant feature of Česká Kamenice, and is also the most important cultural monument of the city. In the covered above-ground corridor you will find an exhibition about the history of the city and in the summer you can also climb the church tower, from where there is a beautiful view of the historical center with more than thirty cultural monuments. It is a late Gothic three-nave church with classicist and rococo decoration. The foundation walls of the building date back to from the 12th century . In the 14th century, the church became a parish church until 1622, when it was elevated to the status of a deanery church. Between 1614 and 1631, the church underwent extensive reconstruction and took on its present appearance.

You can find it here 16th-century Renaissance tombstone of Kryštof of Vartenberg and an interesting Baroque baptismal font. The square church tower, 46 meters high and featuring a gallery, was built between 1552 and 1555 by master builder Veit Seifert. The tower is open to the public during the summer season.

The fifteen-year-old Antonín Dvořák played the organ in the church. His music teacher was the choir director and organist Franz Hanke of St. James’s. A. Dvořák arrived in Česká Kamenice in the school year 1856/1857 after his apprenticeship to improve his German. He lived in Ohme’s mill in Horní Kamenice and attended the city school. After returning “from trade”, he entered the organ school in Prague.

The Antonín Dvořák Summer Music Festival takes place in the church in Česká Kamenice at the beginning of summer.