Church of Archangel Michael

Church of Archangel Michael in Křemže, a small town in the Český Krumlov district of South Bohemia, Czech Republic, stands on the main square and has been the natural center of the settlement since the 16th century. It serves as the Roman Catholic parish church of Křemže and, together with its rectory, is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic under the name "Church of Archangel Michael with Rectory."

How far back does the history of this church go?

The first written record of a church here dates from 1362, although the building is believed to be older still. The oldest surviving part is today's sacristy, originally built as a small chapel, probably toward the end of the 14th century. A presbytery was added in 1470 and still retains its original Gothic form. In 1557, a local builder named Jan Některý z Dlouhé Vsi extended the church with a nave.

Why does the current building date only from the late 19th century?

By 1875, the ceiling of the 16th-century nave was found to be structurally unsafe. The decision was made to demolish that part of the church and rebuild on the same site. Construction of the new church began in 1885, and the building was consecrated on 23 October 1887. It was designed in pseudo-Gothic style by an architect connected to the Schwarzenberg family, and the new three-aisled nave rose exactly where the 1557 structure had stood.

What survived from the medieval building?

Despite the 19th-century rebuilding, the oldest parts of the church were not torn down but incorporated into the new structure. The Romanesque sacristy and the 14th–15th-century Gothic presbytery still stand today and connect directly to the newer pseudo-Gothic nave, which measures 21 by 14.25 meters.

Where exactly is the church located?

The church sits in the heart of Křemže, directly on the town square, in the eastern part of the Český Krumlov district within the South Bohemian Region. Its geographic coordinates are 48.9057361 N, 14.3046325 E.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same church as the Church of Archangel Michael in Chernihiv, Ukraine? No. These are two entirely separate churches that happen to share the same patron saint. One stands in Křemže, Czech Republic; the other is in Chernihiv, Ukraine, and belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. They have no historical or architectural connection to each other.

What architectural style is the current building? The church built between 1885 and 1887 is in pseudo-Gothic style, a common choice for church reconstructions and new sacred buildings across Central Europe in the late 19th century.

Can visitors still see medieval parts of the church? Yes — the sacristy and presbytery date back to the Gothic period (14th–15th century) and are noticeably older than the rest of the building, visible in their distinct architectural form.

Which parish does the church belong to? It belongs to the Roman Catholic parish of Křemže.