Church of St Nicholas and St Elizabeth in Cheb

The Church of St Nicholas and St Elizabeth is the oldest surviving church in Cheb and one of the royal town's great visual anchors, together with the Black Tower and the medieval Špalíček. It has stood on Kostelní náměstí for more than eight centuries, and its walls still read like a compact history of Cheb: Romanesque basilica, Gothic hall church, Baroque details and neo-Gothic towers restored for the present day.

History and Architecture

The earliest written record of the church dates from 1239, when an altar was consecrated here. The building itself began in the early 13th century as a three-aisled Romanesque basilica. The two massive towers, the west facade with its entrance portal and the portal in the north aisle belong to this oldest phase and are among Cheb's most valuable Romanesque remains.

After a major fire in 1270, an early Gothic presbytery with a polygonal end was added. The decisive change came between 1456 and 1476, when Cheb builders Master Jiří and later Master Erhard Bauer of Eichstätt turned the church into a large late-Gothic hall structure. The nave is about 50 metres long, 30 metres wide and 21 metres high, and the church once held fourteen altars.

The Jesuits cared for the church in the Baroque period and enriched its furnishings. In the 18th century both towers received new tops; the south tower was given a Baroque onion dome by the architect Balthasar Neumann. The towers rise to 67 metres. After damage by lightning in 1742 and bombing on 20 April 1945, they carried temporary roofs for decades. In 2008, neo-Gothic spires based on the 1869 appearance returned to the skyline.

Inside the Church

Inside, look for the carved faces of nine medieval builders above the main entrance - a rare sign of the pride of the stonecutters who worked here. The columns preserve 15th-century frescoes restored after 2008, while stained-glass windows bring medieval motifs back into the space.

The oldest object is a Romanesque baptismal font from the early 13th century. The burial chapel contains the sarcophagus of Countess Sidonie Schlik, whose remains were found during research in the crypt in 2014.

Tower and Crypt

The tower viewpoint has been open to visitors since 2014. The ascent leads up 133 steps to the bell level and then another 37 steps to the viewing platform, with a broad panorama over Cheb's historic centre and the surrounding landscape.

The underground crypt is also accessible. It includes a central hall, three smaller chambers and a walled section with preserved remains, together with an exhibition on burial customs and finds from the site.

Admission

Practical Information

Allow about 30-60 minutes for the church and crypt, plus another 15-20 minutes for the tower. The church suits visitors interested in architecture, medieval towns and panoramic views; families can visit comfortably, but the tower stairs are narrow in places.

The church is in the historic centre of Cheb, about 750 metres north of Náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad. Opening times may change around services and the season, so check before a special trip.

Directions and Contacts

• Website: farnostcheb.cz
• Address: Kostelní náměstí 15, 350 02 Cheb
• GPS: 50.0808, 12.3704
• Phone: +420 354 422 458
• E-mail: farnost@farnostcheb.cz