Church of Saint James the Greater

The Church of Saint James the Greater stands beside road No. 432, at the junction between the villages of Roštín and Cetechovice in the Zlín Region of Moravia, Czech Republic. It is the oldest monument in the area — older, in fact, than Roštín itself, first documented in 1193. Standing apart from any village center, surrounded by open fields, the church has a solitary, almost pilgrimage-like presence in the landscape.

How old is the church and how has it changed?

The building's roots go back to the Romanesque period, when a modest Romanesque church first occupied the site. It was later rebuilt in an early Gothic style, reshaping the structure to match the architectural taste of that era. A further reconstruction followed between 1638 and 1644, as the region recovered from the devastation of the Thirty Years' War. The church's present appearance, however, comes from a thorough rebuilding in 1742, when the structure was essentially reconstructed from the ground up. It is this 18th-century form that visitors see today.

What can visitors see inside?

Inside, two epitaphs commemorate the lords of Zástřizl, a noble family once tied to the surrounding estates — their presence points to a long-standing relationship between the church and the local nobility. The centerpiece of the interior is a valuable altar bearing a painting of Saint James, the work of Jan Chambreze, a noted painter from the nearby town of Holešov. This image of the church's patron saint forms the artistic heart of the building.

Why is the church usually kept locked?

Both the church and its adjoining cemetery have been targeted by thieves several times in recent years, which is why the building is normally kept locked. One of the more painful losses involved four wooden angel figures in Baroque style, each more than two hundred years old, which were stolen from the site. As a result, visiting the interior usually requires arranging access in advance, and the church is best approached primarily as a landmark and a destination for a countryside walk rather than a site with regular opening hours.

How do you get there, and what should you know before visiting?

The church sits directly on road No. 432, on the stretch connecting Roštín and Cetechovice, and its isolated silhouette is visible from the road well before you reach it. Its approximate coordinates are 49.18243 N, 17.27673 E. The surrounding countryside is well suited to longer walks and cycling routes through the gentle hills of the Zlín Region, away from the busier tourist trails.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Church of Saint James the Greater in Roštín older than the village? Yes. The church already stood before Roštín was first mentioned in written records in 1193, making it the oldest monument in this part of the region.

Can you go inside the church? The church is often locked because of repeated thefts, including the theft of four historic Baroque wooden angel figures. Visiting the interior typically requires contacting the people responsible for the building in advance.

What is the main highlight inside? The altar with a painting of Saint James by Jan Chambreze, a painter from Holešov, along with two epitaphs of the Zástřizl noble family.

Where exactly is the church located? On road No. 432, between the villages of Roštín and Cetechovice, standing apart from both settlements.