Church of Saint John the Baptist

The Church of Saint John the Baptist in Malín ranks among the oldest surviving sacred buildings in the Czech Republic. It stands in Malín, a village that today forms part of Kutná Hora, and has served the local parish for more than a thousand years despite carrying a different dedication since 1922.

Why does the church have two names?

The building was originally consecrated to Saint John the Baptist, and this historical name is still the one most commonly used to identify the site. In 1922 the church was reconsecrated and rededicated to the holy apostles John and Paul, which is why you may encounter both names attached to the same structure depending on the source.

How old is the church?

The oldest surviving part of the building probably dates from the end of the 10th century and was built in an early Romanesque style connected to Ottonian architecture. That places it among the very earliest surviving sacred buildings anywhere in the Czech lands. The original layout was simple: a single nave closed on the eastern side by a round apse, a plan typical of the earliest parish churches in the region.

What changed over the following centuries?

The church was rebuilt in the 12th century, a project that altered parts of its appearance and interior layout. At some point a tower was added — an unusually angular structure set asymmetrically against the nave rather than centered on it, a detail that sets this building apart from many neighboring parish churches. The tower rises over two storeys. Because of these later additions layered onto the earlier Romanesque core, the church is sometimes grouped with buildings described as "Baroque Gothic" — structures where Gothic-inspired reworking was applied during the Baroque period on top of much older stonework.

Where exactly is the church located?

The church stands in Malín, a part of Kutná Hora situated to the northeast of the town, along the road leading toward Pardubice. Malín lies north of the Kutná Hora railway station, a short distance from the historic town center that is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. For visitors already exploring Kutná Hora, the church makes a natural extension to the itinerary: it offers a glimpse of a far older, more modest sacred building that contrasts with the large Gothic churches in the town center.

What else should visitors know before going?

A cemetery surrounds the church, a common feature of rural parish sites in this part of the Czech Republic, so it's worth keeping that in mind when planning a walk around the area. The building remains an active place of worship, so visits are best planned with that in mind.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Malín church the same building as the Church of Saint John the Baptist? Yes — it's the same structure. Saint John the Baptist was the church's original dedication before 1922; today it is dedicated to the holy apostles John and Paul.

Is this the oldest church near Kutná Hora? The oldest surviving section dates from the end of the 10th century, making it one of the oldest preserved churches in the Czech Republic — considerably older than the Gothic churches in central Kutná Hora.

How do you get to the church from central Kutná Hora? The church is located in Malín, to the northeast of the town center, close to the road toward Pardubice and not far from the Kutná Hora railway station.

Does the church have a cemetery next to it? Yes, a parish cemetery surrounds the building, a typical arrangement for rural churches in this region.