Above Žďár nad Sázavou in Moravia, a walled pilgrimage precinct gathers around a church whose plan seems to turn geometry into movement. The Pilgrimage Church of St John of Nepomuk at Zelená Hora is the most original work of architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel and a UNESCO World Heritage property since 1994. Its fame often rests on the five-pointed star associated with its ground plan, but the complete experience depends on seeing the church, surrounding cloister and pilgrim field as one designed ensemble. Earlier entries in this database mixed construction dates and visitor prices; this guide distinguishes enduring architectural facts from schedules that must be rechecked.
The church was built between 1719 and 1727 in honour of John of Nepomuk, the Bohemian priest and martyr who became a major figure of Catholic devotion. The site at Zelená Hora, or Green Hill, was linked with the saint’s early education. Santini combined Baroque spatial drama with pointed forms and references to Gothic architecture, creating a style often described as Baroque Gothic. The result is not simply a decorative church: the architecture directs attention upward and guides visitors through a carefully composed sequence of thresholds and spaces.
