kostel svaté Máří Magdalény (Včelákov) Church

The church of St. Mary Magdalene represents one of the most important sacral buildings of the Chrudim district. It was built between 1844 and 1848 in a late classical style on the site of an older parish chapel which was gradually replaced. Včelákov, a town located southeast of the district city, has a rich spiritual tradition dating back to the 14th century.

The first mentioned church in Včelákov was a flat-ceiling Gothic building from 1350 with a wooden ceiling and a crust. The city gradually went through various church jurisdictions - in 1624 the church was joined to Skutč, later in 1677 to Hlinsk. The restoration of his own parish was only initiated in 1738 by the Count Kinský's shield, which led to extensive reconstruction. The builder Hanuš designed a new church in a late classical spirit whose foundations were laid in 1844. The construction was completed four years later and in 1850 sanctified. The original Gothic temple was then taken in 1851.

It is an architecturally oriented structure built at 507 metres above sea level. The main boat is surrounded by a presbytery with a prism tower with side ports on the east side. The smooth façade is broken by corner boasts and half-circle windows, which sit on the continuous after-hours ledge. The main west entrance is made up of a right-angled portal ended by a key. Roofs are valbos, covered with traditional bags, while the tower carries a needle roof. The interior retains the classicist equipment - the main boat is encased with a flat ceiling, presbytery with a rolling section.

The wealth of the interior lies in valuable paintings and architectural elements. The main altar adorns the work of John Umlauf representing Jesus and Mary Magdalena; The same author painted the cross path from 1860-1870. The side altar carries the painting of the crucified Christ with the Painful Virgin Mary by painter Schmidt, pupil of the Vienna Führich School. The interior painting was also carried out in 1929 by local vicar Jan Kohel. In the sacristy there is a painting of Mary Magdalene from 1831.

A special place became the organ of Karl Josef Trnka from Chrasti u Chrudimi, obtained at the turn of 1849 and 1850. Their price was 680 gold pieces. The instrument has 14 registers divided into seven in the main machine, four in the positive and three in the pedals. The organ was repaired in 1895 (performed by Jan Mácal), 1924 (Václav Poláček) and 2000 (Jan Karel).

An integral part of the memory of the site is a commemorative plaque with the names of all the victims from the Lížák settlement, which resembles local historical tragedies. The church today remains an important social and cultural centre of Včeláková, protected by the state as a cultural monument.