The town of Železná Ruda has its origins in a mining settlement established in the 16th century. At that time, small deposits of iron ore were found near the mountain saddle below Špičák. Mining was carried out here with hundred-year breaks, as the ore veins were not very abundant. The last attempts at mining ended between 1929 and 1934.The main landmark of Železná Ruda is the really very unusual Church of Our Lady of Help of the Star. The Church of Our Lady of Help of the Star was built in the years 1729 – 32 by Count Wolf Jindřich Nothaf, the owner of the local estate. The ground plan of the church is formed by a six-pointed star. Even the massive onion-shaped dome is topped with a star instead of the usual cross. Allegedly, there was a glassworks on the site of the church and the builder used the original foundations of this glassworks. The bell tower was not completed until 1777. The construction of the dome was carried out by the local carpenter Matyáš Lehner.
Church furnishings: The main altar – the painting of the Virgin Mary dates back to 1854 and is a copy of a painting by Lukáš Cranach Sr. The original is in the Capuchin monastery in Innsbruck. An important copy of this painting is in the Capuchin monastery in Passau and is known as the Virgin Mary of Passau. The statues on the altar represent St. Henry II and his wife Kunhuta, who are the patrons of the founders of the church and glassmakers. The cross above the tabernacle ×× is made of ruby glass with cuts and is gilded. It was made in the Eichinger glass cutting plant. Above the altar is a statue of God the Father the Creator, the altar of God the Son – Redeemer is on the right and the symbol of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove is on the pulpit. Above the pulpit is a statue of Christ the Good Shepherd. Side altars on the right – in front the already mentioned altar of St. Cross with the Sorrowful Virgin Mary, a beautiful Baroque work by an unknown master. Another altar belongs to St. Magdalene with statues of St. Zacharias and Elizabeth, parents of St. John the Baptist. At the back is the altar of St. Florian, the patron saint of firefighters and protector against fire. Side altars on the left – in front is the altar of St. John of Nepomuk with statues of St. John the Baptist and St. Anthony of Padua. In front of the altar is a baptismal font carved from Šumava granite. On it there is a sculpture representing the baptism of the Lord in the Jordan××. At the back is the altar of St. Sebastian. The boxes with the relics of saints××, located on both back altars, are framed by Venetian mirrors. Stations of the Cross – is a ceramic work from the forties of the twentieth century. Paintings – on the railing of the choir represent 12 apostles: from the left St. Andrew, Simon, Jude, Thaddeus, Matthew, John, Paul, Peter, Jakub Sr., Jakub Jr., Filip, Bartholomew, Thomas. Chandelier – is the work of the local glass cutting shops. Tombstones – in the walls of the church belong mostly to members of the Hafenbrädl family. This family purchased the interior furnishings of the church. The second stone to the left of the entrance belongs to Miss Betynka, the owner of Debrník, the founder of the settlement named after her Alžbětín. Organ – comes from 1871. It was made by an organ company in Regen. “Oliveta” – to the left of the entrance is a folk work depicting Christ suffering from anxiety before the impending torture and crucifixion. Sleeping figures depict the apostles Peter, James and John. An angel appears to Christ and strengthens him.
