Boží Tělo a Panna Marie

The Church of Corpus Christi and the Grieving Virgin Mary is a Gothic monastery church on Latrán street in Český Krumlov, once the shared heart of a joint Minorite and Poor Clares monastery, now administered by the Knights of the Order of the Cross with the Red Star. Standing in the shadow of the town's famous castle, it rarely tops a first-time visitor's list - yet for anyone interested in sacred architecture or organ music, it's one of the most rewarding stops in Český Krumlov.

How old is this church, and who built it?

The monastery around the church was founded in 1350 by Peter I of Rosenberg and his wife Catherine, an unusual arrangement for its time: a single monastic complex housing both Minorite friars and Poor Clares nuns, who shared one church between them. The church itself was consecrated in 1358. Over the following centuries the complex passed through the hands of different religious communities before coming under the administration of the Knights of the Order of the Cross with the Red Star, who still run it today.

What happened to the building over the centuries?

The original Gothic structure survived largely intact until the mid-17th century, when the church underwent a thorough Baroque reconstruction between 1649 and 1681. That renovation gave the building the features most visible today: an ornate Baroque gateway leading into the monastery grounds and a Baroque main altar. The result is a layered building where a medieval core carries a Baroque interior - a pattern common across religious architecture in southern Bohemia, but rarely this legible in a single structure.

What's the highlight inside?

The church's centerpiece is its historic organ, considered the oldest fully original organ preserved in Český Krumlov. It was built between 1679 and 1682 by organ makers Nicolaus Christeindl and Bernhard Wollerse, both based in nearby České Budějovice. Standing just behind the Baroque altar, the instrument is still played today and draws visitors specifically for its sound. The interior seats around 150 people, has a tiled stone floor, and is wheelchair accessible.

Is it still an active place of worship?

Yes. Despite its historic status and appeal to visitors, the church remains an active place of worship, hosting regular Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic masses. Alongside services, the building doubles as a concert venue and is a traditional stage of Festival Krumlov, where it hosts organ recitals and chamber music performances throughout the season.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? At Latrán 50 in Český Krumlov, within the grounds of the former Minorite and Poor Clares monastery, today administered by the Knights of the Order of the Cross with the Red Star.

Who founded the monastery and church? Peter I of Rosenberg and his wife Catherine founded the monastery in 1350. The church was consecrated eight years later, in 1358.

What's the main thing to see inside? The historic, fully original organ built in 1679-1682 by Nicolaus Christeindl and Bernhard Wollerse of České Budějovice - the oldest surviving organ in the city.

Can visitors go inside as tourists? Yes, the church is open to visitors and regularly hosts concerts, including organ recitals during Festival Krumlov, though it primarily functions as an active parish church.

Is the church accessible for wheelchair users? Yes, the interior is wheelchair accessible.