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St. Maurus Reliquary

Category: Religious Monuments Region: Karlovy Vary and its surroundings Town: Bečov nad Teplou

The Romanesque St. Maurus Reliquary is the most significant monument in the region (national cultural monument) and it is the second most precious example of medieval jewellery making in the Czech Republic, after the crown jewels.

History of the Reliquary

The reliquary was made in the first third of the 13th century for the Benedictine Monastery in Florennes, present-day Belgium, to hold the relics of St. Maurus, St. Timothy, St. John the Baptist and St. Apolinar. Following the dissolution of the monastery during the French Revolution, the reliquary was bought by Alfred de Beaufort-Spontin who had the reliquary restored and brought it with him to his Bečov estate. When the Beauforts were forced to leave Bečov after World War II had ended, they secretly buried the reliquary under the floor in the castle chapel where it lay hidden for almost 40 years. The reliquary was finally found in 1985, in a very poor condition though. The painstaking restoration of the rare and unique artefact of European significance lasted 11 long years.

The reliquary is of rectangular shape, its top side shaped like a saddleback roof. The core was originally made of oak, during restoration it was replaced by a walnut wood core though. The reliquary is decorated by a number of reliefs and sculptures from gilded silver, precious stones, filigrees and gems from precious and semi-precious stones. Statues of St. Maurus and Jesus Christ are placed on the faces. The upper walls are decorated by round medallions with scenes from the lives of St. Timothy and St. John the Baptist, with statues of the apostles on the side walls.

The reliquary and the display related to it can be seen at Bečov Chateau as part of tour routes I and III. Admission Fee

Opening hours

Peroid	Days	Opening Hours
1 Apr – 30 Apr	Sat, Sun	9:00am - 4:00pm
1 May – 30 Jun	Tue – Sun	9:00am - 4:00pm
1 Jul – 31 Aug	Tue – Sun	9:00am - 5:00pm
1 Sep – 30 Sep	Tue – Sun	9:00am - 4:00pm
1 Oct – 31 Oct	Sat, Sun	9:00am - 4:00pm

Admission fee

Admission Fee	Route I	Route II	Route III
Full admission fee	140 CZK	80 CZK	130 CZK
Children, students, disabled	100 CZK	60 CZK	90 CZK
Seniors over 65 years	100 CZK	60 CZK	90 CZK
Family ticket	380 CZK	220 CZK	350 CZK