Stara Boleslav – Basilica of St Wenceslas

Stara Boleslav played an important role in the beginning of the Premyslid state. There are two famous pilgrimage churches – Basilica of St Wenceslas and the Church of Ascension of Virgin Mary.

St Wenceslas

Stara Boleslav got famous by an important historical event – prince Wenceslas, one of the most important sovereigns in Czech history, was assassinated by his own brother Boleslav in 929 there.

And therefore the basilica was built on the same place where Wenceslas died. Prince was later canonized and proclaimed a saint patron of Bohemia and a symbol of the Czech statehood.

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See other Czech catholic shrines. 

Stara Boleslav is also well known for the bronze relief of the Virgin Mary with her child Jesus, Palladium of the Bohemian lands. The legend says that local farmer found this relief in 1160 and it was said to have a miraculaous power.

According to the legend Saint Ludmila, Saint Wenceslas´ grandmother, gained it from Saint Metod and prince Wenceslas inherited it. After his assassination one of his friends blessed Podiven to take it and hide it, as the enemies of St Wenceslas could not get it. Unfortunately, Podiven was murdered too.  The baroque church was built in the same place in the 17th century and it is situated near basilica.

Mass times Stara Boleslav 

Masses: Church of Ascension of Virgin Mary	Monday: 9 a.m. Tuesday-Sunday: 9 a.m., 6 p.m.
Masses: Basilica of st. Wenceslas	Sunday: 8 a.m.
Adoration	after celebration at 6 p.m. half hour (cca from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
Confessions	Half hour before celebration

The Parish Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is open during services for all scheduled pilgrims on Saturdays and Sundays from 11.00 to 17.00. (in winter from 10.00 to 16.00.) for pilgrims and visitors.

The parish church of the Basilica of St. Wenceslas Church – during services for all scheduled pilgrims
Saturdays and Sundays from 11.00 to 17.00. (in winter from 10.00 to 16.00.) for pilgrims and visitors, accompanied by a guide, which can be found in the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, or at the phone numbers below, which is active only in the open time. Those interested can register with the guides in the Church of the Assumption, or on Saturdays and Sundays contacted at tel. 722 275 514 or 722 275 515 and from 10:00 to 17:00 (in the winter from 10:00 to 16:00).

To Prague you can get with:

Prague Airport

Václav Havel Airport Prague, (IATA: PRG). There are three terminals; Terminal 1 for non-Schengen flights and Terminal 2 for Schengen flights are connected whilst Terminal 3 for private jets is two stops away by bus. Located 20 km (12 mi) northwest of the city centre, it generally takes about 30 min to reach the city centre by car. The airport is served by a number of airlines.

To travel between the airport and the city center

Public buses offer connections to several metro stations, from which you can travel to the city center in a total travel time of 45 minutes.

Door-to-door shuttles are operated by various companies with stands in the arrivals hall. Door-to-door private transfers are offered by many companies for fixed prices. Rental cars are useful for exploring the Czech Republic beyond the city of Prague.