In Zapy, Baroque church art and the sports facilities at Teletník Arena cater to different visitor interests. The Church of St James the Greater (Kostel sv. Jakuba Většího) combines architectural history with remarkable furnishings; the town’s history stretches far back. If you are looking for a holiday apartment, you can assess Zapy based on the focus of your stay: is it primarily about culture and history, or should sports facilities also play a part?

Baroque architecture and furnishings

The Church of St James the Greater (Kostel sv. Jakuba Většího) was completely rebuilt in 1750 to plans by Kilian Ignác Dientzenhofer, in an ornate Baroque style. The main altar features Filip Leutner’s painting “The Beheading of Saint James” from 1769. The building and the altarpiece can be distinguished by date: the painting was created 19 years after the new church was built and is part of its furnishings.

The pulpit also takes up the theme of the church’s patron saint. Its Baroque reliefs depict episodes from the life of Saint James the Greater, as well as the journey of his relics from Palestine to Santiago de Compostela. Visitors interested in religious art will find another specific depiction alongside the altarpiece, with motifs relating to the life and traditions of the saint.

Protected ensemble and local history

It is not only the church building that is protected as a historic monument: the protected complex also includes the perimeter wall, the statue of Saint John of Nepomuk, the staircase and the enclosed plots of the site. The church also has a separate, solid stone bell tower. The two-storey structure dates from the 16th century and displays Gothic-Renaissance forms. Two of the original three bells survive: the large Bell of the Virgin Mary and the smaller Evangelist Bell.

The cemetery contains valuable tombstones from the 18th century and the mid-19th century. In one corner of the cemetery there is also a Baroque mortuary chapel with an ossuary, built around the middle of the 18th century. The area around the church is also classified as a significant archaeological site in category ÚAN I. It is associated with prehistoric agriculture, the Knovíz culture, and the Middle Ages and modern era.

The history of the town also stretches far back: Zapy developed from four formerly separate settlements—Zápy, Zípce, Ostrov and Stránka—and has a history of more than 950 years. The connections between the formerly separate settlements and the archaeological site add a longer local perspective to the architectural heritage.

Visiting opportunities and sports facilities

On 23 May 2025, the church was open to visitors from 5 pm to 9 pm as part of the traditional Noc kostelů (Church Night). On this occasion, visitors were also traditionally able to see the bell tower and the mortuary chapel. For another visit, check the specific event date; the opening on that occasion does not indicate access at other times.

Teletník Arena offers a different focus from the historic ensemble. In autumn 2024, visitors could use a garden area, a snack stand, a grandstand, a pergola and a children’s playground; seating with refreshments was also available outside match days. At that time, the sports facilities included a beach volleyball court and another multi-purpose artificial turf field for nohejbal, volleyball and floorball. As facilities can change, check which options are currently available before visiting.

Cycling route project and planning your stay

Another consideration for planning your trip is the 2.9 km Zeleneč–Lázně Toušeň cycling route project. It concerns the cadastral areas of Zapy and Lázně Toušeň and was intended to connect residents of Lázně Toušeň, Zapy and Zeleneč with Prague. If you plan to use this connection for a ride, check the current project status and the surface and signage conditions beforehand.

When choosing a holiday apartment, you can tailor your stay to specific interests: the church, its cemetery and the town’s history offer a cultural focus, while Teletník Arena adds a sporting element. Also bear in mind that access to the church on the date mentioned was tied to the event, and that the arena’s facilities may change.

Discover more destinations: Brandýs nad Labem-Stará Boleslav, Dobročovice, Křenice, Mukařov, Velké Popovice, Nupaky, Radějovice, Zlonín.

View the broader travel overview: Okres Praha-Východ.