Kostel Sv. Klimenta / Church of St. Clement - Stará Boleslav (Central Bohemia)
N 50° 11.674 E 014° 40.365
33U E 476641 N 5560315
The Romanesque Church of St. Clement (Kostel Sv. Klimenta or Klementa) is the oldest preserved building in town Stará Boleslav and also belongs among the oldest staying sacral buildings in the Czech lands.
Waymark Code: WMVPZ7
Location: Středočeský kraj, Czechia
Date Posted: 05/16/2017
Views: 18
The Romanesque Church of St. Clement, considered a former chapel of the local princes' castle, is situated near St. Wenceslas' Basilica. Its masonry dates back to the 11th century (ca 1050). Valuable Romanesque paintinges (one of the oldest preserved in Bohemia) from the second half of the 12th century, depicting the legend of St. Clement, were discovered in the church interior in the years 1899–1900.
St. Clement is a single-nave Romanesque tribune church with a semicircular apse on the eastern side and stone portals in western and northern walls. Interior nave's dimensions are 7.45 m × 4.55 m. The interior is dominated by the layered Arc de Triomphe. The nave has two narrow windows on each side and also apse is illuminated by two windows. In the western part of the nave was located quoted tribune, supported by beams, initially with direct entrance from the western side.
Dedication of the church to one of the first popes, St. Clement, is consistent with the tradition brought to the country by Ss. Cyril and Methodius. Together with more famous basilicas of St. Wenceslaus and of Our Lady, the St. Clement's church has been declared the national cultural monument in Stará Boleslav. The church was opened after demanding reconstruction for public in 2005. Church, nowadays only filial chapel of Stará Boleslav Roman Catholic parish, is without regular service and is used only occasionally.