Painted Churches

How do I arrange a tour of the Painted Churches?

When you have a date in mind for a tour, call the Chamber office to see if the date is available. The staff will help you with all the details. Please do not send a reservation form and deposit without talking with the Chamber staff first.

Why do I have to pay a $60.00 deposit?

The deposit guarantees your reservation with the Chamber and it assures that you will show up for your tour. A guide is not assigned to your group until the deposit is paid. The deposit will become the guides fee when you arrive. If for some reason you do not show up for your tour and do not call to cancel it at least the day before, the deposit will be forfeited.

Should I give the guide a gratuity at the end of the tour?

The guides are doing a service much like anyone in the service industry.  If you feel that they have exceeded your expectations, a gratuity would be much appreciated.  The amount is up to each individual.

Is there a bus that we all ride on or do I have to drive my own car?

Transportation is provided by our visitors, and the tour guide will ride in your vehicle with you if there is room. The guide can drive their vehicle, if needed, but cannot transport tour members.

Is there a minimum number of people for a guided tour?

The Chamber is happy to accommodate groups of any size, whether it is 1 or 100.

If I just have a few people, can you combine my group with another one?

The Chamber strives to accommodate as many groups as possible, but we don’t always have enough docents available on a given day. We also try to limit the guided tours to no more than six per day. We will only combine two groups when it is an emergency. We want each group to feel that it is their special event, not something they have to share with strangers. If we can’t provide a guided tour for you on the date you request, please consider another date or take the self-guided tour.

May I visit the churches on my own without a guide?

 If you have a small group of no more than 6 people, you may visit the churches on your own. The churches are normally available from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm, Mondays thru Saturdays, with some exceptions.  Praha closes at 3pm on Saturdays.  Occasionally, there are weddings, funerals, or special Masses at some of the churches, therefore, it’s a good idea to call the Chamber ahead of your visit to be sure the churches are available. When touring on your own, you can visit 4 of the 6 churches in this area.

Do the churches get any of the money that the Chamber makes from tours?

The Chamber gives a portion of the proceeds from the tours to the churches. 

Are there any special rules we need to follow while visiting the churches?

There are several rules of church etiquette that must be followed:

• Please remember to close all doors behind you; you are welcome inside but we prefer the birds and wildlife stay outdoors.
• No food, drinks, chewing gum, tobacco, or pets are allowed.
• You may sit down in the pews, but please do not go into the choir loft or in the altar area.
• Please do not touch the statues, sculptures, or paintings.
• Please do not take the prayer books, as these are used at each Mass by the congregations.
• These churches are still active today and do have services, prayer times, weddings, and funerals.  Please respect the congregations by remaining outside if an event is in progress, and be mindful of those who may be coming in to worship.