Church of Saint Catherine in Hořice na Šumavě
A 13th-century church with magnificent stained glass windows
The existence of the church in Hořice is documented by a reference to the local parish from 1248. The original, probably late Romanesque or early Gothic church was replaced between 1483 and 1510 by a new building. It was built in several stages: in the 1480s, a new presbytery was constructed (the vault is dated 1487), and at the beginning of the following century, a double-nave was added, probably vaulted in the same style as nearby Chvalšiny by Hans Gezinger. The original church tower, slightly off the axis of the new west façade, was likely preserved.
In 1745, the choir loft was extended in the Baroque style. The church was damaged by several town fires, especially in 1791 and 1834. A significant neo-Gothic renovation of the exterior occurred in 1900–01, during which the original tower was replaced by a new one in the same location. After 1945, the church and the town fell into disrepair; restoration took place around the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Until 1787, the church was surrounded by a cemetery, parts of whose perimeter wall still remain. To the west stands the former Baroque rectory.
The church is an important urban feature that significantly shapes the character of the town square. It dominates distant views of the town from almost all directions and surrounding hills, creating a distinctive panorama.
