Kostel Povýšení svatého Kříže s farou a kaplankou Church

Welcome to a place where epochs meet and every stone tells a story thousands of years ago. You're standing on a platform right now that's a lot more than just a space for construction. Beneath your steps is a land that was sacred long before the Christian word was first spoken here. In front of you is the Church of the Ascension of the Holy Cross, the oldest preserved cultural monument of the Old Rožmitál. Feel this atmosphere of peace and nobility surrounding you. Behold this complex, which forms a harmonious whole with a rectory, a caplar and a cemetery. It is a place that has survived for ages, war and destructive elements, and yet still stands here to testify to human faith and tireless efforts to build.

To understand why this place is so special, we need to go back deep into the past to the very roots of the human settlement. By the time the first stone wall was built here, this was already a home for people. Archaeological findings tell us that there was a significant settlement here in prehistoric times. But it is even more fascinating to think that this place probably served as a pagan offering. Imagine the ancient rituals, the prayers to the unknown forces of nature that took place in this very place. This spiritual power of the place was so strong that even when Christianity came, there was no need to seek a new place. The place where the pagan altar used to stand began to stand a new symbol of faith.

The first church that originated here was early Gothic and dates back to the mid-13th century. It is a fascinating thought that this building was older than the chateau itself and the city, which later developed under this design. At that time, the church was the cornerstone of the whole neighborhood. In 1347 there was its first significant enlargement, which was the last big change before the architecture of the church began to change under the influence of new styles. This Gothic foundation was made up of the church of the skeleton, which later was followed by other layers of history.

Now pay attention to the architecture you're observing right now. Although you can smell dust in the church for centuries, its present appearance is the result of a Baroque reconstruction that took place between 1729 and 1731. At this time the church turned into a building that seemed much more monumental and harmonious. Please look up at the tower. Its onion finish is a typical characteristic of the Baroque period and gives the whole whole its characteristic, noble profile. In this reconstruction, the crust also expanded so that the building could better serve the believers and that its inner space corresponded to the need for space and light at that time.

If you look around, you'll see that the church is not a lonely element in the landscape. Part of this sacred grounds is the rectory and chaplain. This chaplain, however, has a very specific and a little mysterious history as it originally served as a skeleton. It is a reminder of the fragility of human life and respect for those who no longer sleep here. The whole area is then supplemented by a cemetery which forms an integral part of this spiritual space. All of these elements together form one whole, which now surrounds you.

However, this region and this place are not just empty buildings. They are inextricably linked to human destinies and the great names that left their mark in this neighborhood. Although the names of the architects who invented these buildings have been lost in history, the spirit of this place has always been inspired by people with great talent and feeling. In the vicinity of this place were also names that belong to the history of our culture. Here we can remember Jakub Jan Rybu, Václav Vavríc Hoffmač Preštice or Bedřich Kamarít. Although their lives may not be directly linked to every stone block of this church, their presence in this region gives the whole area cultural depth and reminds us that this place has always been part of a wider stream of human creative and spiritual life.

However, the history of this church was not just a way of flourishing and expanding. It was also a way of overcoming tragedy. The church had to face the destructive forces of the fire that threatened its existence many times. The first big fire hit the site in 1794. At that time, people had to restart the restoration of this center of faith with great effort. But the greatest test of resistance had to face the church much later, in 1933. At that time, the second fire was so devastating that only bare walls were left of the beautiful building. Imagine the horror and sadness of people who saw their spiritual home turn into ruins. Yet, as many times in history, a new force has risen from these ruins. What you see today is proof of the incredible persistence and ability to recover. These walls, which you are now observing, bear not only the trace of baroque work, but also the traces of the invisible will that refused to let this place perish.

Here we could stop and think about what we just heard. You are standing in front of a monument that is much more than just a historical object. It is the fickle story of mankind - from the pagan victims on this hill, to the Gothic fortress of faith, to the baroque nobility and tragic fires that made it a symbol of resistance. It is a place where time does not flow linearly, but where all these moments intersect in one space.

But now I will no longer hold you in my escort. I suggest you go through the entire area slowly. Take a closer look around the chaplain, feel the peace of the cemetery and try to stop by the rectory. Let yourself be carried away by the atmosphere of this place and try in your mind to imagine what everything here looked like hundreds of years ago. Maybe by looking at the tower with its onion end, you'll see something you missed before. Thank you for spending this moment right here at the Holy Cross Church. I wish you a beautiful and inspiring walk around the Old Rožmitál. Goodbye.