Church of Saint Bartholomew (Moravský Krumlov)

The Church of Saint Bartholomew stands in Moravský Krumlov, on Klášterní Square, right next to the elementary school that shares its name. The former Augustinian monastery the church once belonged to now houses the town's municipal office, so the whole square still reflects a layout that has stayed remarkably legible for centuries.

What is the history behind this church?

Permission to found a monastery for Augustinian hermits was granted in Avignon back in 1354. The Gothic church built at that time was reportedly around 53 meters long, stretching far into what is today Klášterní Square — a scale that shows how important the order was to Moravský Krumlov at the time.

The Hussite Wars proved disastrous for the whole monastic complex: both the church and the monastery buildings were destroyed. The ruins sat untouched for roughly two centuries until 1634, when Gundakar of Liechtenstein bought the wrecked site and began rebuilding it from the ground up.

The reconstructed church took on a Baroque character, though only the presbytery survived from the original Gothic structure — everything else was rebuilt in the new style. In 1693, the Chapel of Our Lady of Loreto was added, laid out on an unusual star-shaped floor plan. It was funded by Prince Maximilian II Jacob of Liechtenstein, a detail that highlights just how closely the Liechtenstein family stayed tied to this site across generations.

Everything changed again in 1786, when Emperor Joseph II dissolved the monastery as part of his sweeping religious reforms. The empty buildings then found a surprisingly practical second life — first as a factory, later as housing, and eventually as the seat of the municipal office, a role the complex still fills today. A Baroque Calvary sculpture group stands in front of the church, forming a notable part of its immediate surroundings.

What should you look out for on site?

The most striking feature is the contrast between the surviving Gothic presbytery and the Baroque body of the rest of the church — a physical record of the building's turbulent path from the Middle Ages through its 17th-century reconstruction. Look closely at the star-shaped plan of the Loreto Chapel, an unusual architectural choice for the late 17th century, and at the Baroque Calvary group by the entrance. Standing next to the former monastery, now the municipal office, also makes it easier to picture the original scale of the whole monastic complex.

How do you get there, and when is the best time to visit?

The church sits in the center of Moravský Krumlov, on Klášterní Square, so it's an easy walk from the town's main square. As a building listed among the Czech Republic's cultural monuments, it's best visited during the day, when natural light brings out the details of the façade and the Calvary sculptures. Pairing the visit with the nearby Moravský Krumlov castle makes it easy to cover the town's main sights in a single day.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded the monastery next to the church? Permission to build it was granted in Avignon in 1354, and the initiative came from the Augustinian hermit order.

Why does the church combine different architectural styles? The original Gothic building was destroyed during the Hussite Wars, and its post-1634 reconstruction gave it a Baroque form — only the presbytery survives from the Gothic church.

What happened to the monastery after it was dissolved? After Emperor Joseph II dissolved it in 1786, the buildings served as a factory and later as housing before becoming the town's municipal office, which they still are today.

What stands in front of the church? A Baroque Calvary sculpture group stands at the entrance, added as part of the church's surroundings.