Discover Želenice: Church, Bell Tower and Building History

In the centre of Želenice stands a historic church complex with three clearly distinguishable elements: the Church of St James the Greater, a wooden bell tower and the wall enclosing the cemetery. The church dates back to the 12th century; it was later altered in the Gothic period and in the 17th and 19th centuries. For travellers interested in architectural history, this ensemble helps shape the town’s cultural character.

A protected centrepiece

The church complex consists of a single-nave church, the wooden bell tower and the wall around the cemetery. The church, tower and wall are all protected monuments. Their shared location in the centre makes the complex a distinctive landmark in Želenice. The Church of St James the Greater and the bell tower are also jointly named as symbols of the town.

Romanesque origins and later building phases

The Church of St James the Greater originally dates from the 12th century and was Romanesque. Its subsequent history can be seen in the alterations made during the Gothic period and in the 17th and 19th centuries. Several building phases can therefore be seen side by side, rather than assigning the church to a single period.

A comprehensive restoration in 2013 enabled a closer examination of the largely preserved Romanesque nave. Its masonry consists of alternating courses of sandstone and marl blocks. This sequence of materials adds a tangible architectural dimension to descriptions of the nave and connects with the history of its later alterations.

The bell tower: Renaissance form and bells

The wooden bell tower is believed to date from the 16th century and is considered a relatively rare example of a Renaissance bell tower. It is hexagonal, stands on a stone base and has a mansard roof. Its form and construction make it easy to describe distinctly, without conflating it with the single-nave church.

Two bells, cast in 1581 and 1613, hang in the tower. The dates show that the bells come from different periods; together, they are part of the historic tower’s fittings. For a stay focused on cultural history, these details offer a concrete glimpse of the different aspects of the ensemble: the Romanesque church, the Renaissance tower and the history of the bells.

Travel information and a culinary highlight

A municipal notice from May 2026 named bus route 858 as a connection between Želenice, Koleč and Libčice nad Vltavou. The associated timetables were proposals open for comment. For your journey, check the current timetable rather than planning on the basis of that earlier information as if the service had been confirmed.

An invitation to Řížkobraní on 29 August 2026 asked participants to bring schnitzel, pork belly, desserts, pickled cucumbers or spreads to share and taste together. This dated event adds a culinary glimpse of a communal tasting format to the building history.

Discover more destinations: Buštěhrad, Malé Kysice, Neprobylice, Plchov, Pozdeň, Kutrovice, Svárov, Dřínov

View the broader travel guide: Okres Kladno.