Church of the Ascension in Stará Role

Location: In Závodu Míru Street in the Karlovy Vary district of Stará Role
Period of construction: 1908
Architect: Hermann Fiedler
Official opening: 10 October 1909
Accessibility: Accessible during religious services

How to get there

Route 1:        You may take a long walk from the spa centre to the church. From the Hot Spring, walk along the Teplá River up to Tržnice (Market) city bus terminal where you will cross Chebský most (Cheb Bridge) into the district of Rybáře. Right behind the bridge, walk down to the Ohře River and continue along a bicycle path that will lead you to Stará Role. The route is approximately 7 kilometres long and it will take you about two hours.

Route 2:        If you decide for the second, easier route, take Bus No. 3 or Bus No. 15 from the "Tržnice" (Market) stop to the terminal stop in Stará Role. From there, you will walk across the railway crossing and the Rolava River and continue for another 200 metres up Závodu Míru Street to the church.

History of the structure

Only a small municipal chapel built in 1823 used to stand in Stará Role. Because the chapel could no longer serve the rapidly growing industrial district, a decision was made to build a new parish Church of the Ascension in Pseudo-Romanesque style according to the design of architect Hermann Fiedler. The foundation stone of the new church was consecrated by Prague Bishop Wenzel Frind on 29 September 1907. The construction itself was executed in 1908 under the supervision of builder Alois Sichert and the interiors were decorated and furnished in 1909.

The church, originally called the Jubilee Church of Emperor Franz Joseph,was consecrated by Archbishop and Cardinal Lev Skrbenský on 10 October 1909. The youngest church in Karlovy Vary is an example of modern sacral architecture of the early 20^th century. The Pseudo-Romanesque single-aisle church with a prismatic tower and apse was built of glazed brick. The interior of the church may boast magnificent figural decorations by local painter Karl Lehninger, depicting the birth and the resurrection of Christ. The belfry is open to the public during various cultural events.