Church of Saint Francis of Assisi

The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi is a small parish church standing at the very center of the village of Hostim, in the Znojmo District of the South Moravian Region. The building combines a Baroque core with a later Classicist extension and is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

Where is Hostim?

Hostim is a small village of fewer than 400 residents, a few kilometers southeast of the town of Moravské Budějovice, in an area known for its gentle, agricultural South Moravian landscape. The church sits right on the village's central square, making it hard to miss for anyone passing through. The parish belongs administratively to the Diocese of Brno and the Vranov deanery.

How far back does its history go?

The parish of Hostim is first recorded in writing in 1322, when the village and its church belonged to the Premonstratensian canoness convent at Pernegg. The church building itself first appears in sources in 1394, described as a Gothic structure. That original building did not survive: the Protestant owner of the Hostim estate had it torn down before 1569. That owner was Jiří Valečský of Mírov, who in the same year, 1569, built a new Renaissance-style Protestant church on the site. He and his wife were later buried in the church crypt at the end of the 16th century. Notably, the bells from the older church — cast back in 1502 — were kept and moved into the new building.

Catholic parish life in Hostim ceased in 1620 and only resumed during the Counter-Reformation in the first half of the 17th century, though a resident priest did not return until 1731. Records from 1657 show the church interior held just a single altar at that time. The building was enlarged in 1727, and a bigger renovation followed in 1829, when the organ was refurbished and a music choir loft with an external entrance was added. In 1853 the church underwent a thorough overhaul: the side altars, pulpit, and baptismal font were all restored or replaced.

The 20th century took a toll on the church bells — sets were requisitioned for the war effort during both the First and Second World Wars. The organ was repaired in 1948, and the choir loft was restored again in 1984. New bells, named František and Marie, were finally installed in the tower in 1990.

What is there to see?

The church's present form reflects centuries of rebuilding: a Baroque core paired with a Classicist extension, all built of stone, giving it the sturdy, unassuming character typical of rural parish churches in the region. Inside, look out for the side altars, pulpit, and baptismal font renewed in the mid-19th century, as well as the choir loft dating back to 1829. The church remains an active parish building where regular services are held.

Frequently asked questions

Which village does this church belong to? This is the church in Hostim, in the Znojmo District of the South Moravian Region — a small village a few kilometers from Moravské Budějovice, not to be confused with other villages of the same name elsewhere in the Czech Republic.

Is today's church the same medieval building? No. The original 14th-century Gothic church was demolished before 1569, replaced by a new Renaissance-era building that was later reshaped through several renovations.

Why was the church Protestant for a period? In 1569 the estate's owner, Jiří Valečský of Mírov, was Protestant and had the new church built for that congregation. Catholic parish life only returned during the Counter-Reformation in the 17th century.

Is the church a protected heritage site? Yes, it is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.