Kostel svatého Ambrože na Vícově Church

The Church of Saint Ambrose is originally a Romanesque structure. It stands approximately two kilometers northeast of Přeštic, on a gentle slope not far from the Úhlavy River. It was once part of the village of Vícov, which has since disappeared. Around the church, the stone wall of the former churchyard has been preserved. The building is a cultural monument, along with its furnishings.

According to available records, the church was built around the year 1200, or possibly around the middle of the thirteenth century. It was most likely constructed by Benedictine monks from Kladruby, who owned both the Přeštic estate and Vícov. The first written mention of it dates from 1323. It had its own priest, who was subordinate to the provost of Přeštic. During the Hussite Wars, it burned down together with the village and the rectory. At the beginning of the sixteenth century, it was repaired by the Švihov family from Rýzmberek.

In 1822, the church was in poor condition and there was consideration given to demolishing it. However, the inhabitants of the surrounding area insisted that it be preserved. During major repairs in 1920, old tombstones were lifted from the floor and placed against the wall. The academic painter Maxmilián Duchek restored the wall frescoes at that time. When the plaster was repaired in 1940 and 1941, craftsmen discovered additional paintings, but out of ignorance, they covered them up again. In 1968, thieves stole valuable late Gothic statues of the Madonna and Saint Anne. The church was robbed again in 2001.

During roof repairs in 2002, it became apparent that the church has a very well-preserved Gothic timber frame, one of the rarest in western Bohemia. In 2005, the church had to be closed due to its poor condition. Repairs, financed partly by public donations, lasted until 2010. Between 2017 and 2019, the altars and the pulpit were restored.

The church is a single-nave building, with its axis running from west to east. The Romanesque nave is eleven meters long. The tower with a mansard roof has only narrow openings instead of windows, as it once served a defensive purpose. The nave is followed by a Gothic presbytery with a cross-ribbed vault. On one boss is a pelican feeding its young with its own flesh, and on another is Christ blessing with a book. The hexagonal pulpit is covered by a small wooden roof. Above the bricked-up sanctuary is a fleur-de-lis, the emblem of the Benedictine monks from Kladruby.

Due to thefts, the church is now virtually without decoration. The painting of Saint Ambrose from the Baroque high altar is stored in a repository. It returns to the altar only during Easter services.