The church was ignited by a Soviet Red Army anti-tank projectile in 1945, which destroyed the roof and interior.
The iconic glass roof was designed to restore the original Baroque silhouette while providing internal light to the former ruin.
The building is part of a broader efforts to restore the village of Neratov, which saw its population decline from over 300 to nearly zero after 1945.
Architects used a 'negative' approach to the restoration, leaving many original damaged surfaces visible to maintain the history of the ruin.
The church was officially consecrated again in 2007 after being roofless for over 60 years.
The design includes a specific layout that aligns the altar with the rising sun during summer solstices.
The church walls were left in their weathered, post-fire state, creating a contrast with the modern glass installation.
The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Neratov is renowned for its distinctive glass roof, which was installed during the building's comprehensive 21st-century reconstruction. Built originally between 1723 and 1733, the Baroque church sits on a hill in the Orlické hory mountains near the border with Poland. The structure was heavily damaged by fire during World War II and remained a ruin for decades until a community-led restoration project began in the 1990s. The unique glass construction allows natural light to illuminate the interior, serving as a symbolic bridge between the ruins of the past and a modern place of worship. The village of Neratov was almost entirely depopulated post-war, but the church restoration has since revitalized the area as a place of pilgrimage. The interior retains original salvaged stonework and decorative elements alongside contemporary art installations. It functions today as both a spiritual site and a prominent cultural landmark in the region.
From the center of the nave looking upward at the intersection of the Baroque stone arches and the modern glass roof.
Visit during the afternoon when the sunlight angles directly through the glass roof to create light patterns on the floor.
Explore the surrounding village trails to see the historical cemetery and the remains of the old parish buildings.
Check the local parish website for musical performances, which often utilize the church's unique acoustics.
Do not attempt to climb onto the exterior walls or disturb the site of the adjacent protected cemetery.
Maintain a quiet volume as it is an active place of worship; remove hats when entering.
