All Saints church

All Saints Church (Kostel Všech svatých) is one of the oldest buildings in Boskovice, a small town in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. It stands at the corner of Havlíčkova and Hybešova streets, right in the town centre, and although it no longer serves as an active parish church, it remains an important marker of local history.

How old is the church?

The earliest written record of the church dates back to 1505, though the structure itself is likely much older. Historians suggest the walls of the presbytery and the eastern part of the nave may conceal an early medieval, Romanesque core, on top of which a Gothic building was raised in the 15th century. Over the following centuries the church was repeatedly reworked: Renaissance alterations arrived in 1567, reportedly financed by the local clothmakers' guild, followed by Baroque changes in 1596 and 1718. The building visible today is therefore a layered result of several architectural periods rather than a single unified design.

What can visitors see?

The church is a single-nave building with a Gothic core overlaid with clear Renaissance and Baroque features. The main nave has a flat ceiling, while the presbytery retains its original Gothic ribbed vault, with the coat of arms of the Zástřizl family — former owners of Boskovice — carved into the ribs. Inside stands a wrought-iron Renaissance pulpit from 1626, originally made for the Church of St. James the Elder and later moved here. The church also once housed a painting of All Saints by Jiří František Tříska, a painter born in Boskovice, dated to 1664. A fire damaged the building in 1916, and the choir loft was only rebuilt in 1947 — traces of that history are woven into the structure even if not obvious at first glance.

Can you go inside?

The interior is currently closed to visitors, so most people experience the church from the outside. Even so, the building and its surroundings are worth a short stop: a wall encloses the site, once protecting the cemetery that surrounded the church. The last burials took place here in 1948, and in 1998 the former cemetery grounds were renovated and turned into a public park. Today it offers a quiet spot for a brief walk, a natural pause while exploring central Boskovice.

How do you get there?

The church sits in the heart of Boskovice, at the junction of Havlíčkova and Hybešova streets, making it an easy walk from the main square and other town highlights such as the castle or the former Jewish quarter. It fits naturally into a longer stroll through the historic centre.

Frequently asked questions

Is All Saints Church in Boskovice open to the public? It no longer functions as an active parish church, and its interior is not generally open to visitors.

Where does the church's name come from? The church is dedicated to All Saints, a dedication reflected in a 1664 painting of the same theme that once hung inside.

What is the oldest part of the building? Most likely the walls of the presbytery and the eastern section of the nave, which may hide an early medieval Romanesque core predating the Gothic rebuilding.

Is there anything else to see near the church? Yes — the former churchyard was turned into a park in 1998, and the compact centre of Boskovice holds further historic sights within easy walking distance.