Church of Holy Spirit in Šumná

Church of the Holy Spirit in Šumná stands in a small village in the Znojmo district of South Moravia, Czech Republic. Consecrated in September 2008, it's one of the more notable examples of contemporary sacral architecture in this part of the country, built to finally give the local parish a home of its own.

How to get there?

Šumná is a small village near the Austrian border, part of the Znojmo district in South Moravia. The church sits at the heart of the village, on what used to be an unused public space at the crossing of local roads. The easiest way in is by car from Znojmo, a short drive away, or as a stop while touring the vineyard country of South Moravia.

Who designed it?

The building was designed by Moravian architect Marek Štěpán of Atelier Štěpán. Construction took three years and cost around 6.5 million Czech crowns, roughly 1.5 million of which came from a South Moravian Region grant, with the rest raised through donations and sponsorship. Before the church existed, the parish had spent eleven years holding services in the hall of the local municipal office, so its completion was a long-awaited milestone for the community.

What will you see?

The church follows a rectangular plan combining a tower, nave, and apse, with the whole structure measuring about 18 by 9.3 meters. Its architecture favors simple, geometric lines set on a strict proportional grid based on a circle inscribed within the plan. The four-story tower houses a choir loft on its lower two floors and a belfry above; beneath the presbytery there's a basement clubroom, while the vaulted nave leads toward a raised, circular sanctuary platform.

Builders used ceramic blocks and solid brick for the walls, monolithic reinforced-concrete slabs for the ceilings, and a timber roof structure finished with ceramic tiles. Metalwork combines copper and titanium-zinc sheeting, doors and windows are oak, and the liturgical furnishings are carved from Božanov sandstone. Interior walls received lime-based plaster, and the pews are made of oak. A monumental fresco is planned for the apse in the future.

When to visit?

The consecration took place on September 14, 2008, drawing roughly a thousand people — a clear sign of how significant the new church was for the community. Today it functions as an active parish church, open during services or by arrangement with the parish office. Spring and summer are the best times to combine a visit with exploring the rolling hills and vineyards of South Moravia, though the church itself, as an indoor site, can be visited year-round.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Church of the Holy Spirit in Šumná built? It was completed in 2008 after three years of construction and consecrated on September 14 of that year.

Who designed the church? Moravian architect Marek Štěpán of Atelier Štěpán designed the building.

Why did Šumná need a new church? For eleven years, the parish had held services in the hall of the local municipal office because the village had no church of its own; the new building ended that arrangement.

What materials were used in construction? The walls are ceramic block and brick, the ceilings are reinforced concrete, the roof is ceramic tile, and the liturgical furnishings are made from Božanov sandstone and oak.