Orthodox Church of Saint Peter and Paul

Location: In Krále Jiřího (King George) Street in the Westend District above the centre of Karlovy Vary
Period of construction: Between 1893 and 1898
Architect: Gustav Wiedermann
Official opening: 1898
Accessibility: Accessible in opening hours for visitors

How to get there

Route 1:        A number of routes lead to the Orthodox Church of Saint Peter and Paul in the residential district of Westend. The shortest route is approximately 900 metres long and it leads from the Hot Spring in the spa centre through Zámecký vrch (Castle Hill) Street, along the Anglican Church of Saint Lucas and up Petr Veliký (Peter the Great) Street. At the pond known as Malé Versailles (Small Versailles), you will turn right to Krále Jiřího Street and after a few metres, you will be standing in front of the church.

Route 2:        If you decide for the second route, take Bus No. 4 from Tržnice (Market) to "Krále Jiřího" (King George) stop and from there, walk down Petr Veliký (Peter the Great) Street directly to the church.

History of the structure

The beautifully decorated, Byzantine style Orthodox Church of Saint Peter and Paul was erected in the then newly emerging, exclusive residential district of Westend at the western edge of the town between the years 1893 and 1898 according to the design of architect Gustav Wiedermann from Františkovy Lázně (Franzensbad). It was built in the fashion of the Byzantine-old Russian church in Ostankino near Moscow. The funds necessary for the construction of the church were raised among wealthy Serbian and Russian clientele and nobility. The new church replaced the no longer satisfactory Orthodox chapel in Mariánskolázeňská Street.

The richly decorated Byzantine style church has a floor plan in the shape of a Greek cross and five gold-plated cupolas. The church walls are complemented with plentiful ornamental and figural murals. The church interior is dominated by a wooden majolica iconostasis with oil icons of saints by painter Tyurin. The iconostasis was originally made in Kuznetsovo for the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900. A bronze relief of Peter I by sculptor M. Hiller is installed by the staircase opposite Sadová Street. The church is accessible to the public during regular opening hours, i.e. daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.