Church of Saint John the Evangelist

The Church of Saint John the Evangelist in Blovice is a Baroque church standing on the northeastern edge of town, on a terrace above the Úslava River in the Plzeň region of the Czech Republic. Its onion-domed tower has shaped the town's skyline for centuries and remains visible from many points around Blovice and the surrounding countryside.

How old is the church, and what stood here before it?

A sanctuary on this site is first recorded as far back as 1374, when a Gothic church occupied the spot. The Baroque building seen today replaced it between 1760 and 1767, commissioned by the Kolowrat family, who owned the local estate at the time. A year after construction finished, in 1768, six statues of Czech patron saints by the sculptor E. Max were installed on the façade, and they still mark the building today.

What does the architecture look like?

The church follows a cross-shaped floor plan, and its three-part façade rises to a central tower topped with an onion dome that can be spotted well beyond the rooftops of Blovice. Pilasters divide the front elevation into sections, with six niches holding the statues of Czech patron saints. This combination of a central entrance tower, flanking façade sections and sculptural decoration is a fairly typical example of Baroque church-building financed by wealthy noble families in the Plzeň region during the second half of the 18th century.

What else is worth seeing around the church?

On the north side stands an Empire-style tomb of the Kolowrat family from 1833, evidence of the family's generations-long connection to Blovice and its surrounding land. Against the south wall is a cast-iron cross dating to 1873, and the same wall still carries a historic sundial. Together, the church, the family tomb and the smaller pieces of sacred architecture around them form a coherent, well-preserved churchyard complex right at the edge of the town centre, worth a walk around even without going inside.

Can visitors go inside the church?

The church remains an active parish church with regular services. The interior is generally accessible to visitors during Mass; outside service hours the building tends to be closed, so it's worth timing a visit to the parish's Mass schedule, usually posted on the noticeboard near the entrance.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Church of Saint John the Evangelist in Blovice built? The current Baroque building dates from 1760-1767, replacing an earlier Gothic church first mentioned on the same site in 1374.

Who funded the construction of the church? The church was built with funding from the Kolowrat family, owners of the local estate, whose long-standing ties to Blovice are also reflected in their Empire-style family tomb from 1833 standing beside the church.

What do the statues on the façade represent? The façade holds six statues of Czech patron saints, carved by the sculptor E. Max and installed a year after the church itself was completed.

Is it possible to see the inside of the church? The interior is mainly open during Mass, since the church still functions as an active parish church and is otherwise usually closed to casual visitors.