Zelena Hora Things to Do Tips by globetrott

the cloister around the cemetery

The cloister around the cemetery includes only 1 single chapel with a painted dome and ornaments all over the walls, while all the other 9 chapels have no ornaments at all.

This is the painted chapel on my pic, and it shows again the symbol of the tongue at the arches and windows.

the organ of Zelena Hora

The organ is rather small and almost hidden behind the balconies of the second floor.

Every half hour you may attend some explanations in Czech Language, but you may get a small sheet of paper with explanations in different languages.

There is an entrance fee of 30 Kronen.

the dome

When you click on the pic, you may see the symbol of the tongue again on the very top of the dome.

And also the dome has the shape of the pentagon again.
2 storeys of balconies are built into the dome, but they are not accessable for the public.

Have a look for the ornamental lines , all following the shape of pentagons.

Directions: The dome of the church

the main altar

The main altar is also made like the shape of a tongue.
Jan Nepomucky is shown in the very centre, surrounded by 5 angels.
Jan Pavel Cechpauer, a sculptor from nearby Chrudim made the sculptures on the main altar and the 4 side altars.

the pulpit

On the pulpit you may see the scene on Charles bridge, when Jan Nepomucky was thrown into the river in 1393.
The sculpture also shows the 5 stars around the head of the saint.

The church in Zelena Hora was built between the years 1719-1722 by the famous architect Jan Blazej Santini-Aichel .

Saint Jan Nepomucky

The church was consecrated to the National saint of the Czech Republic :

Jan Nepomucky / Johann Nepomuk

He was thrown into the Moldau-river from Charle's bridge in Prague in may 16th, 1393.

The legends says, that he was not willing to tell the king Wenzel iV any secrets, his wife told him during the confession.

Here on my pic of the altar you see Jan Nepomucky standing on top of the globe, surrounded by 5 angels.
(unfortunately Jan Nepomucky is a bit dark on my pic)

Directions: Inside the church

the pulpit and the tongue as a symbol

When the saint was unburied in the year 1719 his tongue was completely unspoilt .

This fact was taken for a proof that he was a saint , and so the symbol of the tongue may be found at many places all over the church, even the windows and arches have that shape.

On my pic you may see the pulpit with the sign of the tongue on the very top and one of the 4 side-altars of the evangelists.

a masterpiece by Santini

When Jan Nepomucky was thrown into the water by the troops of the king, certain patterns of pentagons appeared in the sky - and so this kind of pentagons are to be found in the principal structures of the church :

5 entrances , and 5 more chappels without entrance make the outside walls and arcades of the cemetery

5 edges of the church

the main altar and 4 side-altars, showing the 4 evangelists

and all patterns and ornaments on the walls somehow represent the number 5

Directions: Inside the church

The arcades around the cemetery

The cemetery is totally surrounded by a high arcade, where you may walk inside and have a look to the church and cemetery, but NOT outside.
5 gates may be used to enter the cemetery, and all these gates have great sculptures on top of their entrance-halls and are locked by big wooden doors.

Directions: North of the town "Zdar nad Sazavou"

Bohemian "Baroque Gothic"

Zelena Hora is one of the most famous examples of the so-called "Baroque Gothic"-style.
A formerly Gothic church was rebuilt and re-decorated in baroque style.
The whole of the church follows certain rules and symbolisms :
most of the rooms and ornaments have 5 edges, only the outside wall of the cemetery has 10 edges.