Cemetery Church of Saint Andrew

Location: In Ondřejská (Andrew) Street in a slope above the centre of Karlovy Vary
Period of construction: 1500
Period of reconstruction: Between 1840 and 1841
Architect: Unknown
Official opening: 1500
Accessibility: Accessible during religious services

How to get there

Route 1:        The first route leads from the Hot Spring in the city centre along the right bank of the Teplá River and up the steep climbing Ondřejská (Andrew) Street. The short, yet challenging route due to the steep decline is approximately 600 metres long and it will take you about 15 minutes.

Route 2:        If you decide for the second, easier route, takeBus No. 2, Bus No. 7, Bus No. 8 or Bus No. 13 from the "Tržnice" (Market) stop and travel two stops to the "U Jara"  stop. From there, you will need to walk about 150 metres down Ondřejská Street to get to the church.

History of the structure

The originally late Gothic church was constructed in the year 1500 upon the order of Loket Chamberlain Stefan von Branden by an unknown builder beyond the so-called Ostrovská brána (Ostrov Gate) outside the medieval town walls, on a terrace located on a steep slope of the valley of the Teplá River. The road to Šibeniční vrch (Gallows Hill) high above the town lead along the church and the tolling of the local bell accompanied the condemned on their last journey. After an epidemic had swept through the spa town, Emperor Joseph II ordered the closing of all cemeteries in the inner town. In 1784, the town cemetery originally located by the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene was relocated to the Church of Saint Andrew.

The cemetery church was renovated and partially reconstructed in Empire style between the years 1840 and 1841. In 1911, the cemetery adjoining the church was closed and converted into a public park. The park is currently known as Mozartovy sady (Mozart's Park) and several tombstones of significant personages have been preserved on its grounds. After World War II, the church was closed down and it was gradually dilapidating. In 2005, it was transferred to the possession of the Greek Catholic Church, which has launched its extensive reconstruction between 2005 and 2009. The church is accessible during religious services.