Silesian Hradčany,
the Pride of Orlová
The Roman Catholic Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is
a significant feature of the original centre of Orlová. The neo-Gothic,
three-aisle building with two towers is called the Silesian Hradčany for its
beauty, majesty and historical value. Together with the access staircase
with statues, the church is a part of the local cultural heritage.
Centuries ago, a chapel stood on the
hill, which was replaced by a church in
1466. At the end of the 19th century, the
church was no longer sufficient for the
number of believers, which had increased
with the development of coal mining, so
the foundation stone of the new building
was laid on 8 September 1903.
The consecration took place on 21 October
1906. This is evidenced by a memorial plaque
in the church hallway. 'Above the entrance
there is the emblem of the Benedictine
monasteries in Prague-Břevnov and Broumov,
with whom the history of Orlová and the local
monastery and church was connected', says
Orlová spokesperson Nataša Cibulková.
Next to the church is the Chateau Park,
founded together with the Orlová Chateau
in 1765. Its lime arbour was elected the most
beautiful arbour of the region in 2020.
Both the church and the park are stops on
the new educational trail 'Forgotten Orlová',
which commemorates places that used to be
the pride of the town.
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