Church of Saint Anne

Church of Saint Anne stands in Polanka nad Odrou, a district on the western edge of Ostrava in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. Its story is a small-town tale of community fundraising, aristocratic patronage, and an unlucky structural collapse that shaped the building visitors see today.

How did the parish come to build its own church?

In 1882, residents of Polanka formed a building association with the goal of raising a proper parish church. Countess Karolina of Berolingen became the project's main benefactor, donating 40,000 gold crowns. Because that sum wasn't enough to cover the planned construction, her contribution was raised to 95,000 crowns in 1885, finally putting the project within reach.

When did construction actually start?

Planning discussions ran through 1891, and the foundation stone was formally blessed on 20 January 1892. Builders soon ran into a serious obstacle: the ground beneath the site contained shifting, water-bearing sand. To keep the church stable, workers drove long wooden piles deep into the subsoil before laying the foundations.

Why did the tower collapse right after the church was finished?

The building was completed on 26 September 1893, marked by the ceremonial blessing of the cross atop the tower. The celebration didn't last - on 4 October 1893, just over a week later, the tower came crashing down. The local landowner, Prince Blücher, initially wanted to replace it with only a modest bell turret, but the Imperial-Royal Silesian provincial government stepped in and ordered him to fund a full 22-metre tower instead, complete with a clock, a roof finial, and a wrought-iron cross.

Is the church a protected monument today?

Yes. The building has been listed as a cultural heritage monument since 1998, recognizing its historical and architectural significance to the district.

Where exactly is the church located?

The church sits in the Polanka nad Odrou district within the Ostrava-město administrative area, in the Moravian-Silesian Region, at approximately 49.788 N, 18.1646 E.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the church dedicated to? Saint Anne, traditionally venerated as the mother of the Virgin Mary.

Which part of Ostrava is it in? Polanka nad Odrou, a quieter, semi-rural district along the Oder river on the city's western edge.

What caused the original tower to fall? Historical sources don't spell out a precise technical cause, only that the newly built tower collapsed just days after completion, despite the site's foundations having already been reinforced with wooden piles against shifting sand.

Is today's tower the original one? No - the current 22-metre tower with its clock is a rebuild, ordered by the provincial government after the 1893 collapse and paid for by Prince Blücher.

Can visitors go inside? As an active parish church, it's generally open around service times; checking with the local parish before a visit is recommended.