Deanery Church of the Birth of the Virgin Mary

Dominating the historic centre of Písek, the Dean’s Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is a three-aisled Gothic structure dating back to the second half of the 13th century. It was built by the Písek–Zvíkov stonemasonry workshop, which also created some of the town’s oldest landmarks.

Originally, the church had two towers of equal height. One of them was rebuilt in 1489 and now rises to 72 metres. The Renaissance gables on the church’s northern side date to the mid-16th century.

Inside, visitors can admire Late Romanesque and Early Gothic wall paintings preserved on the pillars. One of the side altars features a replica of the Písek Madonna – the original 14th-century painting was stolen in 1975. In the 1880s, the Baroque furnishings were removed, and the interior is now mostly Neo-Gothic.

Another highlight is the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk from the 18th century, which features a mural view (veduta) of the town from 1742. A statue of the saint is set into a niche on the outer wall of the chapel.

At a height of 42 metres, the church tower includes a walkway that serves as a public viewing gallery, accessible only through guided tours. The church itself is open to visitors during services.