Church of Saint John of Nepomuk

The Church of Saint John of Nepomuk in Pohořelice is a Baroque parish church in a small village in the Zlín district, about 13 kilometers southwest of Zlín. The single-nave building, topped with a four-sided tower above its front facade and flanked by rectangular side chapels, was built in the first half of the 18th century, commissioned by the Bishop of Olomouc, who was also the lord of the village. The church stands right next to the local chateau, once linked to it by a private passage for the manor's residents.

Who founded the church, and when was it built?

Pohořelice came into the hands of the Liechtenstein-Kastelkorn family in 1698, when the village was purchased by Franz Karl, Count of Liechtenstein-Kastelkorn, owner of the neighboring Malenovice estate. After his death, the property passed to his son, Jakub Arnošt of Liechtenstein-Kastelkorn — Bishop of Olomouc and, at the same time, Archbishop of Salzburg. It was he who, in 1733, obtained permission to build a new parish church in the village, which by then belonged to him privately.

Construction moved along quickly: the church already stood complete in 1739, and the following year, on 15 May 1740, Bishop Jakub Arnošt personally consecrated it. The church was dedicated to Saint John of Nepomuk, a Bohemian saint who had become especially popular during the 18th-century Baroque period, having been canonized in 1729 — only a few years before work began in Pohořelice.

What does the building look like?

The church was designed as a single-nave structure with a four-sided tower rising above the main front gable and rectangular side chapels running along the nave. The most richly decorated element is the front facade, adorned with oval windows and a stone portal crowned with the coat of arms of its founder, Bishop Jakub Arnošt of Liechtenstein-Kastelkorn. Above the portal stands the tower, fitted with a bell and a clock, visible from a distance over the rooftops of the village.

A defining feature of the church is its direct proximity to the Pohořelice chateau. Because the church was built right next to the residence, its oratory was connected to the chateau by a passage at first-floor level — allowing the estate's owners to attend Mass directly from inside the chateau, without having to step outside.

What is inside?

The interior's main focal point is the altar and its retable, which carries two paintings stacked one above the other. The lower painting, showing Saint John of Nepomuk presenting a stole to the Virgin Mary, was painted by Josef Stern, a Baroque painter active in Moravia. The upper painting depicts Saint John the Baptist; its author remains unknown. The pairing of the church's patron saint with his biblical namesake is no coincidence and underscores the significance of the church's dedication.

Is the church a protected monument?

Yes, the church building in Pohořelice is protected as a cultural monument. Together with the neighboring chateau, it forms a coherent architectural ensemble that still reflects the former role of the Liechtenstein-Kastelkorn family as the owners and founders of this part of the village.

Frequently asked questions

Who built the Church of Saint John of Nepomuk in Pohořelice? The church was commissioned by Jakub Arnošt of Liechtenstein-Kastelkorn, Bishop of Olomouc and lord of the village at the time, who obtained the building permit in 1733.

When was the church consecrated? It was personally consecrated by Bishop Jakub Arnošt on 15 May 1740, a year after construction was finished.

Why does the church stand next to the chateau? Because it was built directly beside the residence of the village's owners, and its oratory was connected to the chateau by a first-floor passage so the manor's residents could attend Mass straight from the chateau building.

What do the paintings on the main altar show? The lower painting, by Josef Stern, shows Saint John of Nepomuk presenting a stole to the Virgin Mary, while the upper one depicts Saint John the Baptist, painted by an unknown artist.

Is the building under heritage protection? Yes, the church is registered as a protected cultural monument.