The early medieval hillfort of Šance lies on a prominent rise northeast of and above Přistoupim’s town centre. The steep slopes of the Jalový potok valley naturally protect the site to the west, north and east. Šance offers a distinct way to explore the town’s history: the site and terrain shape this fortification, while the church, bell tower and other religious landmarks can be understood through their dates of construction and features. If you choose Přistoupim for its cultural monuments, you can explore different historical themes side by side rather than focusing on just one building.

St. Wenceslas Church: first mention, renovation and features

The first written mention of St. Wenceslas Church dates from 1352. Its present appearance is the result of a radical early Baroque renovation in 1694–1695. The dates mark different stages: 1352 is the first written mention, while 1694–1695 marks the extensive structural changes. A side chapel houses an early Baroque altar to St. Wenceslas dating from 1668. The church thus offers distinct dates for its first mention, features and renovation.

Next to the church stands a stone Renaissance bell tower dating from 1590–1591. Work on the tower in 2017–2018 included replacing the roof, repairing the roof structure, and gilding the cross and its orb. The tower’s construction and its later restoration offer different insights into its history. Přistoupim is also home to an early Baroque column of St. Wenceslas dating from 1686. A statue of St. Wenceslas was added in 1715. These two dates distinguish the column’s construction from the later addition of the statue.

Jewish funerary art and other places of remembrance

The Jewish cemetery offers a distinct way to explore Přistoupim’s cultural history. About 600 gravestones have survived; the oldest legible ones date from the mid-18th century. The gravestones are considered an especially valuable record of Baroque and Neoclassical Jewish funerary art. The cemetery can therefore be understood through both the approximate number of surviving stones and their artistic styles.

The former synagogue now serves as the municipal office and local library following its conversion. If you would like to include the building in your stay, check the current situation before visiting. A field path behind St. Wenceslas Church leads to the roadside Boží muka shrine. This allows you to include a religious monument with a clearly described route in your itinerary, alongside the church buildings.

Planning your stay

First-class road No. 12 from Prague to Kolín runs through Přistoupim. This identifies the town’s location on a named road connecting the two cities and complements its cultural highlights with a geographical reference point. When choosing where to stay, you can weigh the different themes: Šance represents the early medieval fortification and its location, while the church, tower, column and cemetery each reveal their own histories of construction, features and art.

Discover more destinations: Krychnov, Uhlířská Lhota, Tuklaty, Libodřice, Nebovidy, Rostoklaty, Vitice, Kolín

Go to the regional travel overview: Kolín District.