Church of Saint John the Baptist (Bzenec)

The Church of Saint John the Baptist in Bzenec is a Baroque parish church standing at the heart of this small town in South Moravia, in the Hodonín district. The building is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic and remains the main church of the local Roman Catholic parish.

How old is the parish in Bzenec?

Church administration in Bzenec can be traced back to the 13th century. The oldest surviving record is a charter issued by Queen Konstancie in 1235, which names a Bzenec priest called Absolon. This shows that a parish church already existed on this site nearly eight centuries ago, even though its form and construction were entirely different from what stands here today.

When was the current church built?

The earlier church, considered unsatisfactory, was demolished at the end of the 17th century. The foundation stone of the new building was laid on 3 May 1696, and construction was completed in 1702. The design of the new early Baroque church came from the Italian architect Giovanni Pietro Tencalla, active on several projects in Moravia during this period. The result is the building that still dominates the center of Bzenec today.

What does the church's architecture look like?

The church has a single-nave layout with a four-sided sacristy attached on the northern side. The nave is covered by a barrel vault. It ranks among the larger buildings of its kind in the region, measuring roughly 45 meters in length, 13 meters in width and 12 meters in height. The entrance portal is decorated with the coats of arms of Kryštof Pruskovský of Pruskov and his wife, pointing to the patrons or main donors behind the reconstruction carried out around the turn of the 18th century.

Is there anything else worth seeing near the church?

In front of the church stands a sculptural group depicting the Holy Trinity, dating from 1764. This kind of Baroque devotional monument is a common companion to parish churches across Moravia, and it is worth a look while visiting the church itself.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Czech name of the church? Kostel svatého Jana Křtitele (Bzenec).

Who designed the current church building? The building was designed by the Italian architect Giovanni Pietro Tencalla.

In what architectural style was the church built? It was built in the early Baroque style, with construction running from 1696 to 1702.

How big is the church? It measures about 45 meters in length, 13 meters in width and 12 meters in height.

Is there anything else of note next to the church? Yes, a Baroque sculptural group of the Holy Trinity from 1764 stands in front of the building.

Since when has there been a parish in Bzenec? The earliest mention of a Bzenec priest comes from a document dated 1235, showing that a parish already existed here in the medieval period.