The Church of the Virgin Mary the Helper from the star - Železná Ruda

The Church of the Virgin Mary the Helper from the star was built in the Baroque style in 1729 – 1732 on request and at the cost of Count Wolf Jindřich Nothaf of Wernberg and is located in the place of an old chapel. What makes the church so special is its unusual ground plan of a six-pointed-star – a hexagram and two cupolas with the star – the church is consecrated to St. Mary the Helper from the start. The smaller tower with the main entrance was built later, added to the hexagram ground plan in the 70s of the 18th century. The roof is completely covered with shingles and the timberwork of the roof was made by Matyáš Lehner, the carpenter. The interior was designed by Johan Georg Hafenbrädl and you can feast your eyes on the altar painting which is one of two copies of the picture of Madonna with child by Lucas Cranach. You can also admire five side altars in the church, the baptism fond made of Šumava granite, chandelier made of Šumava glass or gravestone of the epitaph bard made of Kelheim marble showing the coats of arms of the Hafenbrädl family members. The church underwent a major renovation in 1995 – 1998