Individuals interested in
ecclesiastical monuments will also find something to their
liking in Central Moravia. The city of Olomouc itself has
the most church structures per inhabitant in the Czech Republic
with additional locales in the region not far behind. The
viewing of ecclesiastical monuments is a special opportunity
to submerge into the past, sensing the calm of sacral places
and look over magnificent architectural gems as well as unique
paintings. Each church carries within it a piece of the history
of its village or town.
tel.: +420 581 224 105
The
Museum of Archbishop Antonín Cyril Stojan
Exhibition items documenting the life and deeds of the First
Republic Archbishop Antonín Cyril Stojan are supplemented
by a collection of folk costumes and cultural artefacts from
the municipality and its immediate surroundings.
tel.:
+420 581 741 367
http://www.iweb.cz/zvony/index.htm
Chimes
In the year 2000 unique 5.5 metre high chimes were placed
into operation, unique throughout Europe in terms of their
dimensions as well as their design.
tel.: +420 581 607 479
http://www.mic.hranet.cz
|
http://www.mesto-hranice.cz
The
Church of the Decapitation of St. John the Baptist
This impressive structure on the historical square is of interest
due to its exalted façade with a tower. The church bears the
Ditrichštejn coat-of-arms.
tel.:
+420 582 396 923
http://www.jesenec.cz
The Church of St. Liberius
The gem of this magnificent church from the beginning of the
18th century is its altar with woodcuts in the shape of a
spreading baldachin. The interiors are decorated by magnificent
paintings with scenes from the life of Saint Liberius.
tel.: +420 581 762 046, +420 581 202 202
http://www.kojetin.cz
Parish
Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
It forms the dominant silhouette of the town. This Baroque
building from the 17th century stands on an originally Gothic
foundation. The composition of the Kojetín church is capped
by a twin tower and gable, restored in the second half of
the 18th century. The interior, with its valuable church organ,
was completely remodelled in the mid-18th century in the Vienna
Classicist style.
tel.: +420 581 746 253
http://www.kokory.unas.cz
The Church of the Assumption of the
Virgin Mary
A unique and not to be missed supplement to the baroque church
from the beginning of the 19th century is an indoor staircase
with 60 granite steps. The staircase is a memorial to the
ancient families of the Kokory parish with the name of each
donor carved out on each stair.
Chapel of St. Francis Xavier
Baroque chapel from the year 1724, considered the most beautiful
chapel in the Haná region. Built by the Jesuits.
tel.: +420 573 331 473
http://www.mesto-kromeriz.cz
The
Church of St. John the Baptist
An originally Romanesque church with gothic elements, restored
into a Piarist baroque church in the 18th century with a residential
college. The church is considered one of the most attractive
in Moravia due to its unique interior with both rococo and
sentimental elements which were worked upon by prevalent artists
from Moravia and Austria. Above the entrance to the church
is a unique sculptural group of Christ’s baptism.
The Church of St. Moritz
Bishop Bruno of Schaumburk had this church built in the 13th
century. Today’s appearance originates from pseudo-gothic
restoration work in the 19th century. Worth viewing is the
attractive baroque Marian chapel of the church and the lovely
interiors.
The Church of the Virgin Mary Beatified
This baroque structure came into being on the site of an older
church from which the core of the tower has been preserved.
The pride of the church is its rich baroque interior and rare
stone crosses in front of the church and in the garden.
tel.: +420 581 624 270
The
Church of St. John the Baptist
This wooden folk architecture structure with a shingle roof
dates from the 18th century. Its interiors contain panel paintings
of the stations of the cross and a wooden altar.
| Lipník
nad Bečvou |
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tel.: +420 581 773 763
http://www.mesto-lipnik.cz
The
Church of St. Francis
Petr Vok of Rožmberk had this renaissance brethren church
in Lipník built over the years 1590 – 1593. The church was
acquired and reconstructed by the Piarists approximately one
hundreds later. Amongst the rarities in the church are the
unique organ case from the end of the 17th century decorated
with the figures of singing and playing cherubs and the monumental
entrance gate with a wrought baroque lattice.
St. Jacob’s Church
Gothic building from the 14th century, later rebuilt in Baroque
style. The interior is from the 18th century and the unusual
altar in the Chapel of St. Barbara is worthy of note. There
are interesting bells in the neighbouring Renaissance bell
tower.
tel.: +420 585 513 385, +420 585 513 392
http://www.olomouc-tourism.cz
St. Wenceslas Cathedral
This monumental originally Romanesque cathedral from the 12th
century is the most renowned Olomouc church. It has experienced
a range of reconstructions and at present towers above Olomouc
in a neo-gothic form. The cathedral along with its immediate
environs make up one of the most picturesque locales in Olomouc.
The Church of St. Mary of the Snow
A typical church of the Jesuit order which came into existence
at the beginning of the 18th century and is impressive due
to its lovely and extremely richly decorated interiors. The
church today serves as a parish church where students congregate
amongst others.
The
Church of St. Michael
The trinity of baroque copulas of St. Michael’s Church make
up the characteristic panorama of the city. This Dominican
church was the first copula structure in Moravia. The church
came into existence in the 13th century and experienced significant
reconstruction after the Swedish occupation in the 17th century.
The statues on its main façade rank amongst the highest quality
works of Olomouc baroque sculptural work.
The Church of St. Moritz
This church, one of the most rare late gothic structures in
Moravia, came into being in the 15th century. This unique
parish church contains the largest organ in Central Europe,
constructed by the Wroclav master Michael Engler in the 18th
century and the rare late gothic sculptural group of Christ
on the Mount of Olives. The church tower provides tourists
with a magnificent view of the city and its surroundings.
Hradisko Monastery
The monastery came into being in the 11th century as the seat
of Benedictines. The monks, however, were forced to leave
against their will in the 12th century and were replaced by
Premonstratensians. Hradisko experienced a range of catastrophic
events and was even destroyed several times. Today it carries
a baroque look and has served as a military hospital for over
200 years. One of its towers houses an exposition of the history
of the monastery.
The
Archbishop’s Palace
This magnificent baroque palace has served as the seat of
the Olomouc bishops and archbishops since the 16th century.
In the year 1848 the longest ruling Hapsburg Franz Joseph
I was crowned in the palace. The palace interiors with their
richly decorated frescos and stucco work also served as witness
to the stay of Pope John Paul II in the year 1995.
Chapel of St. John Sarkander
This chapel, dating from the beginning of the 20th century,
stands on the site of the former town prison, in which St.
John Sarkander was tortured. It boasts an unusual stone and
statue work, as well as an non-traditional exposition of torture
devices in the cellar.
tel.: +420 582 329 722–3
http://www.mestopv.cz
Church of the Elevation of the Holy
Cross and former Augustinian monastery
This is the most ancient monument in Prostějov was built in
the beginning of the 14th century on the iniciative of Peter
of Kravaře. It later underwent Baroque reconstruction. Its
prize possession is its lovely Stations of the Cross by František
Bílek, dating to 1904.
Church of St. Peter and St. Paul
This church, rebuilt in Baroque style in the years 1728-1731,
boasts original interiors. Its tower is ornamented with a
traditional onion dome. In the church is a two-storey, octagonal
Chapel of St. Lazarus.
Church
of St. John Nepomuk and Monastery of the Brothers of Charity
Monumental Baroque church and monastery, boasting
rich decorations. Its interiors are fine examples of Late
Baroque. The vaulting frescoes are by Francesco Antonio Sebastini.
tel.: +420 581 217 187
http://www.mu-prerov.cz
The Church of St. Lawrence
This
parish church can boast of a portal richly decorated with
baroque statue work as well as a magnificently decorated interior.
The church was built in the 18th century.
The Orthodox Church of Sts. Cyril
and Methodius
This church stands on the southern edge of the historical
town centre on the site of a synagogue from the 16th century.
It was built in the neo-romanesque style with its Art-Nouveau
interiors the work of the Viennese architect Jacob Gartner.
The church is a national cultural monument. Concerts are often
held here due to the excellent acoustics.
tel.: +420 582 362 738
The
Church of the Advancement of the Holy Cross
This church originated in the 13th century and is
the oldest sacral structure in the Prostějov region. It has
a unique preserved Romanesque core.
tel.: +420 585 012 320
http://www.sternberk.cz
The
Church of the Annunciation of the Lord
This church is the work of the renowned representative of
French oriented rococo classicism the architect F. A. Grimm
and is a striking dominant feature of the town and its surroundings.
It is part of the large grounds of a former Augustinian monastery
from the first half of the 18th century. The vaulted ceilings
of the church are decorated with paintings by F. A. Sebastíni.
Next to the church are cloisters with preserved remains
of high gothic vaulted ceilings.
tel.: +420 585 054 060
http://www.unicov.cz
The Church of the Assumption of the
Virgin Mary
The present neo-gothic look of this originally 14th century
church was the work of the local master builder Vodička. Of
interest are not only the impressive interiors, but also the
modern window curtains created at the end of the 1990s.
The Church of the Advancement of the
Holy Cross
This originally medieval church sits next to a former Minorite
monastery. After a huge fire, the church was reconstructed
into its present baroque look, centuries after its original
coming into existence. It serves today as a concert hall and
gallery.
Pilgrimage sites
tel.: +420 585 964 263,
http://www.dubnadmoravou.cz
According to legend, people began to congregate at the pilgrimage
church of the Purification of the Virgin Mary due to a wooden
painting of the Virgin Mary which would shine during the night.
The pilgrimage tradition has continued for more than 250 years.
At present the church is the site of an annual special celebration
of a pilgrimage mass with the participation of the Olomouc
Archbishop who is accompanied by the local church choir. Visitors
to the church can also admire the excellent baroque décor.
| Kostelíček
(Hranice) |
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| |
tel.: +420 581 601 667,
http://www.mesto-hranice.cz
Within the ground of the pilgrimage site Kostelíček are situated
the Church of the Birth of the Beatified Virgin Mary, the
early baroque chapel of St. Anthony of Padua and a walled
cemetery containing 14 small chapels with stations of the
cross consecrated in the year 1739. Pilgrimages take place
here annually on the closest Sunday to the 13th of June (St.
Anthony), the 15th of August (the Assumption of the Virgin
Mary) and the 8th of September (the Birth of the Virgin Mary).
The masses always begin at 10 am.
tel.: +420 582 376 812 (Parsonage)
This
picturesque baroque chapel of St. Anthony in Krakovec came
into existence in the second half of the 17th century as the
work of an unknown Italian architect. It has been a well known
pilgrimage site for several centuries.
The
church is located in the Libavá military zone. The tradition
of pilgrimages to Stará Voda on the feast of St. Anne go back
to the beginning of the 16th century. The church was originally
a Baroque building with a twin tower with five bells, a courtyard
and covered cloisters with stations of the Cross. Unfortunately,
the final pilgrimage took place in 1949 and the entire area
was closed off for military purposes. The picturesque village
of Stará Voda was closed up and gradually levelled. The church
gradually
decayed. The situation changed only after the Soviet armada
left. The church area was made accessible and its gradual
reconstruction begun. The first pilgrimage thereafter took
place on 28 September 1991.
Pilgrimages: The Political Prisoners’ pilgrimage
takes place on the first Saturday in June. The main pilgrimage
takes place on Saturday (10 am) and Sunday (3 pm) after the
feast day of St. Anne and there is a pilgrimage on Sunday
(3 pm) near the feast day of the Assumption of the Blessed
Virgin Mary and on the Sunday (3 pm) near the feast day of
the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
http://www.ado.cz/poutni/stara_voda/stara_voda.htm
http://www.libavsko.cz/staravod.htm
| Svatý
Hostýn (735 m altitude) |
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tel.: +420 573 380 070
http://www.hostyn.cz
Hostýn Hill, along with the basilica of the Assumption of
the Virgin Mary, has been a popular destination for pilgrims
for three hundred years. The site was sacred even earlier,
however, with even the Celts building an oppidum here. The
present basilica was built in the 18th century. Above the
main altar is a unique statue of the Virgin Mary with the
infant Jesus in life-size dimensions, with the conception
truly distinctive. Visitors also come here to refresh themselves
with the spring water which apparently has curative qualities.
| Svatý
Kopeček (The Holy Hill) |
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| |
tel.: +420 585 513 385, +420 585 513 392
http://www.olomouc-tourism.cz
Thousands of pilgrims have winded their way to the Church
of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary on Svatý Kopeček and
it up until today ranks among the most well-known and most
frequently visited pilgrimage sites in the Czech Republic.
The church was built by the Premonstratensians in the 17th
and 18th centuries on the site of a chapel which had been
destroyed by the Swedes. Even prior to this, however, hundreds
of believers would meet here. According to legend, this pilgrimage
site was founded by the Olomouc burgher and wine trader Jan
Andrýsek with the founding of a chapel at the request of the
Virgin Mary who spoke to him in a dream. A unique feature
of the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary is its
placement. The main axis is not pointing from the east to
the west, but instead turned with its façade pointing toward
its mother institution, the monastery of Hradisko. When the
doors were open the priest would thus also bless the monastery
when blessing believers from the altar. At present the renown
of this pilgrimage site has been renewed with unforgettable
pilgrimages, masses and church concerts taking place here
every year. In the year 1995 Pope John Paul II rose the church
in status to a basilica minor.
