All Saints church (Moravský Krumlov)

All Saints Church is a modest Roman Catholic parish church standing in the centre of Moravský Krumlov, a small town in southern Moravia best known for its chateau and the Mucha paintings once displayed there. The church rarely makes it into guidebooks, but its roots go back to the mid-13th century, making it one of the oldest religious buildings in the area.

How old is this church?

The first written mention of a parish church in Moravský Krumlov dates back to 1248. It was originally dedicated to St. Lawrence, and its Gothic structure stood for centuries before being severely damaged during the Hussite raids. The building was restored in 1466, restoring its role as the town's main parish church.

A second turning point came in the 17th century. A fire in 1630 badly damaged the church, and repair works carried out between 1636 and 1646 ended with a change of dedication — from that point on, the church has been known as All Saints. The reconstruction was funded by the princely House of Liechtenstein, owners of the surrounding estates, and the works were overseen by architect Andrea Erna. After his death, his son Jan Křtitel Erna continued the project, a sign of just how long and costly the undertaking was.

The building kept evolving afterwards: in 1785 the side chapels were connected and a porch was added, and in 1873 another significant renovation reshaped parts of the structure. Despite these repeated interventions, several medieval elements survive — part of the original vault, a section of the tower, and an entrance portal topped with a triangular pediment.

What can you see inside?

Inside the church, visitors can find several historic tombstones that testify to the building's importance for the local elite over the centuries. One of them belongs to Leonardo Garo di Bisono, an Italian builder responsible for the Renaissance reconstruction of the nearby Moravský Krumlov chateau. This connection between the church and the chateau's history makes visiting both sites a natural way to spend a few hours in town.

It's worth paying attention to the traces of different building periods visible in the structure — the Gothic core, Baroque additions from the 17th-century reconstruction, and later 19th-century adjustments. For anyone interested in sacred architecture, this is a chance to trace centuries of building history within a fairly compact space.

How do you get there?

The church sits in the central part of Moravský Krumlov, close to the main square and the chateau, so it's easily reached on foot as part of a walk through the old town. Moravský Krumlov itself is located in southern Moravia, between Brno and Znojmo, with good road connections to both cities.

When is the best time to visit?

Since the church remains an active parish, the best time to visit is on weekdays outside services, or around Sunday mass times when the building is open. Pairing the visit with a tour of the Moravský Krumlov chateau gives a fuller picture of the town's history.

Frequently asked questions

What was the church originally dedicated to? It was originally dedicated to St. Lawrence. The current dedication to All Saints was given only after the 1636–1646 reconstruction.

Who paid for the 17th-century reconstruction? The rebuilding after the 1630 fire was funded by the princely House of Liechtenstein, with works led by architect Andrea Erna and, after his death, his son Jan Křtitel Erna.

What survives from the original Gothic building? Parts of the vault, a section of the tower, and an entrance portal topped with a triangular pediment have survived to this day.

Is it worth combining the visit with the Moravský Krumlov chateau? Yes — the church holds the tomb of Leonardo Garo di Bisono, the builder behind the Renaissance reconstruction of the nearby chateau, tying the two sites together historically.