Kostel svaté Hedviky Slezské (Doubrava) Church
This page was machine-translated from Czech. The translation has not been language-checked and may contain errors.
The Church of St Hedwig of Silesia is the parish church of the Roman Catholic parish of Doubrava in the Karviná district. Doubrava lies in historical Cieszyn Silesia. The church dominates the centre of the village. A rectangular square grew up around a small pond; during the Second World War the pond was filled in and replaced by a park.
A church for a mining village
At the end of the 19th century Doubrava grew with the development of black coal mining, and so did the number of churchgoers. The village belonged to the parish of Orlová, whose church was far away and too small. Doubrava's request for a church of its own was approved by the Bishop of Wrocław (Breslau) on 7 June 1892. Richard Mattencloit donated the land, and the building was designed and built by the architect and builder Bedřich Fulda from Těšín. The foundation stone was blessed on 30 September 1894 and the building was completed in 1898. The cost reached 90,000 gulden. The church was solemnly consecrated on 15 October 1898, the feast of St Hedwig, patron saint of Silesia. At the parishioners' request it became a parish church and Doubrava an independent parish.
A neo-Romanesque building
The church is neo-Romanesque, single-naved and oriented. The presbytery is flanked by two cylindrical towers above the sacristies, with two small oratories above the sacristies. The nave has a gabled roof and both side elevations are divided into five window bays framed by pilasters, with tall round-headed windows. The main tower on a square plan adjoins the west front and turns into an octagonal prism at the level of the nave roof. It ends in a tall, slender spire with four dormers, a ball finial and a cross. There have been clocks in the gables of the tower since 1901. The original facade was decorated with tall rustication.
Bells and furnishings
Three bronze bells originally hung in the tower. The main one, St Hedwig, weighed 1,200 kg and was cast in Vienna in 1895. Two bells were requisitioned for the war effort in 1916; new ones were consecrated in 1925. In March 1942 all three were taken down. New bells named St Hedwig, Barbara and Wenceslas from the Vicher foundry in Brno were hung on 13 July 1947. Inside are three oak altars, the main one with a statue of St Hedwig, a wall painting of St Procopius with miners and a pithead tower in the background, and an organ by Karel Neusser of Nový Jičín from 1898–1899.
Repairs and the bell tower
During repairs in 1987–1988 the rustication and the decorative louvres of the tower disappeared. Further repairs took place after 2007 with support from the OKD mining company and the village. In 2016 a small wooden bell tower was built next to the church and blessed on 2 December 2016 by Bishop František Václav Lobkowicz. It commemorates miners who died in the mines. In April 2024 an 18th-century bell, found in the church of Beimerstetten in Germany, returned to Doubrava. It was cast by the workshop of the Opava bell founder František Stanek.
Then and now
Drag the slider to compare how the landmark may have looked when it was built with the view today.
The historical appearance on the left is an AI-generated visualisation and serves as inspiration only.
Historical milestones
- 7 Jun 1892
- The Bishop of Wrocław approves the village's request for its own church.
- 30 Sep 1894
- Blessing of the foundation stone.
- 1898
- Completion of the building; consecration on 15 October, the feast of St Hedwig.
- 1898–1899
- Organ built by the workshop of Karel Neusser of Nový Jičín.
- 1916
- Two bells requisitioned for the war effort.
- 1925
- Consecration of new bells.
- 1942
- All three bells taken down.
- 13 Jul 1947
- New bells from the Vicher foundry in Brno are hung.
- 1987–1988
- Repairs; the church loses its rustication and the decorative louvres of the tower.
- 2016
- Blessing of the wooden bell tower next to the church.
- 2024
- Return of an 18th-century bell from Germany.
Architectural development
The church was designed and built by the architect and builder Bedřich Fulda from Těšín. Construction began with the blessing of the foundation stone on 30 September 1894 and was completed in 1898. Iron columns and girders were used to support the church. The tower has had a clock since 1901. During repairs in 1987–1988 the rustication of the facade and the decorative louvres of the tower were removed and some windows were bricked up. During repairs after 2007 the sanctus turret was removed from the roof.
Historical events
The village's request for its own church was approved by the Bishop of Wrocław on 7 June 1892. The foundation stone was blessed on 30 September 1894, the building was completed in 1898 and the church was consecrated on 15 October 1898. In 1916 two of the three bells were requisitioned; new ones were consecrated in 1925. In March 1942 all three bells were taken down; new ones were hung on 13 July 1947. During repairs in 1987–1988 the church lost its rustication and the decorative louvres of the tower. Further repairs took place after 2007 with support from OKD and the village.
Points of interest
- The church is dedicated to St Hedwig, patron saint of Silesia, and was consecrated on her feast day, 15 October 1898.
- The land for the church was donated by Richard Mattencloit of the Mattencloit family, who owned the Doubrava manor house.
- A wall painting in the church shows St Procopius with miners and a pithead tower in the background, a reminder that Doubrava grew thanks to coal mining.
- The church bells were requisitioned in both world wars. Today's bells, St Hedwig, Barbara and Wenceslas, date from 1947.
- In April 2024 an 18th-century bell, found in the church of Beimerstetten in Germany, returned to Doubrava thanks to the Bells of Peace and Reconciliation for Europe project.
- The wooden bell tower next to the church, built in 2016, commemorates miners who died in the mines.
Guide
This guide is narrated by a synthetic voice generated by artificial intelligence.
Show guide text
This text was created by artificial intelligence and has not been editorially reviewed. It may contain inaccuracies.
Welcome to the Church of St Hedwig of Silesia in Doubrava. You are standing by the dominant feature of the village square and by a parish church that was built for a fast-growing mining village.
At the end of the 19th century Doubrava grew rapidly thanks to black coal mining. Churchgoers had to walk to the church in Orlová, which was far away and too small for everyone. The village therefore asked for a church of its own, and the Bishop of Wrocław approved the request in June 1892. The land was donated by Richard Mattencloit of the family that owned the Doubrava manor house. The church was designed and built by the architect and builder Bedřich Fulda from Těšín.
The foundation stone was blessed on 30 September 1894 and the building was completed in 1898. It cost 90,000 gulden. On 15 October 1898, the feast of St Hedwig, patron saint of Silesia, the church was solemnly consecrated. At the parishioners' request it became a parish church and Doubrava an independent parish.
Take a look at the building. It is neo-Romanesque and single-naved, with a massive main tower on the west front. Above the nave roof the tower turns into an octagonal prism and ends in a tall spire with a ball finial and a cross. At the other end, by the presbytery, stand two smaller cylindrical towers above the sacristies. The facade was originally decorated with tall rustication, but it disappeared during repairs at the end of the 1980s.
Inside are three oak altars, with a statue of St Hedwig on the main one. Look out for the wall painting of St Procopius with miners and a pithead tower in the background. It is a reminder of what Doubrava lived on. The organ was built by the workshop of Karel Neusser of Nový Jičín in 1898 and 1899.
The church bells had a turbulent history. They were requisitioned in both world wars, and today's bells date from 1947. In April 2024 an 18th-century bell, found in the church of Beimerstetten in Germany, returned to Doubrava. As you leave, stop at the small wooden bell tower next to the church. It was built in 2016 in memory of miners who died in the mines. Thank you for your visit.
Tips for visitors
The church stands on the square in the centre of Doubrava. It is a parish church, so the easiest way to see the interior is during a service. The schedule of services is published by the Roman Catholic parish of Doubrava. You can view the church from outside at any time. The small wooden bell tower next to the church is freely accessible all year round. The church is the second stop on the red route of the Doubrava nature and history trail, which starts on the square.
Frequently asked questions
Can the monument be visited?
Religious buildings are usually open mainly during services; at other times a visit is normally arranged with the parish or the operator. We have not verified specific times.
Where is the monument?
Location: Doubrava, Moravskoslezský kraj. The map on this page shows the exact spot.
Businesses nearby
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Nearby
The church stands on the square in the centre of Doubrava. Right next to it is a small wooden bell tower from 2016, and nearby, by the road to Karviná, a statue of St John of Nepomuk from 1871, which is a cultural monument. About 600 metres away as the crow flies stands the Hussite church of 1928, also a cultural monument. The village also has a small Baroque manor house associated with the Mattencloit family, which the village is restoring in 2026, and the National House of 1903. Dinopark Ostrava lies on the spoil heap of the former Doubrava mine.
Accommodation nearby
Themed route
Red route of the Doubrava educational trail: the circular route starts on the square, where the panels cover the history of the village and its manor house. The second stop is the Church of St Hedwig with its bell tower from 2016. The third is the Miners' Memorial in the cemetery, which commemorates the victims of the mining disasters of 1949 and 1985. The route continues to the Hussite church of 1928, a cultural monument and an example of interwar church architecture influenced by Purism and Constructivism. The next stop is Dřevěnka, the log house No. 81, which long-time residents associate with the first school in the village. The route ends at the National House, opened in 1903. The panels also feature short local legends marked with a coloured owl.
Seasonal recommendations
You can view the church and the bell tower from outside at any time of year. The interior can be seen during services, whose schedule is published by the parish. From spring to autumn you can combine your visit with a walk along the Doubrava educational trail or a ride on the cycle route connected to the Olza cycle path. In summer the local outdoor swimming pool is also an attraction.
Visualizations and artistic views
The visualisations are generated by artificial intelligence and serve as inspiration.
Photos from the area
Real photos taken near the monument
Zdroj a licence jsou uvedeny u každého snímku.
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Sources and literature
- Wikipedie: Kostel svaté Hedviky Slezské (Doubrava)
- Obec Doubrava: Turistické zajímavosti
- Obec Doubrava: Doubravská naučná stezka
- Wikipedie: Zvonice v Doubravě
- Wikipedie: Zvony míru a pokoje pro Evropu
- Wikidata (Q17517372)
Photos: Marian Siedlaczek (my friend) / CC BY-SA 3.0 — Wikimedia Commons. The author and licence also appear when you hover over the image.
Faktickým podkladem tohoto textu byl článek na Wikipedii, jehož autory jsou přispěvatelé Wikipedie. Článek je dostupný pod licencí CC BY-SA 4.0.
Location on the map
Příběhy a pověsti
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