Church of Saint Margaret in Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou

Church of Saint Margaret in Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou is a baroque parish church that, together with the neighboring chateau, forms the defining skyline of this small town in the Třebíč district of the Vysočina region. Since January 1, 2002, the building has been listed as a Czech national cultural monument.

How old is the site itself?

Worship has taken place on this spot for roughly four centuries longer than the current building has stood. A small Renaissance church once stood here, but it burned to its foundations in 1631 - the fire was so fierce that the heat melted the bells hanging in the tower. The ruins waited decades before anyone attempted a full rebuild.

Who commissioned the baroque church?

The turning point came in 1700, when Jan Adam of Questenberg took over the Jaroměřice estate. He set an ambitious goal: to build the most beautiful baroque church in the region. Construction stretched over several decades, and the church reached the form visitors see today in 1737.

What is inside worth seeing?

The interior's centerpiece is a ceiling fresco covering 450 square meters, painted by Karel František Antonín Tepper. It depicts heaven populated with holy martyrs, and in the lantern of the dome, 44 meters above the floor, sits the Eye of Providence motif created by academic painter Jan Knor. The scale of the painting is obvious the moment you step into the nave.

Has the church been restored recently?

Yes. Between 2019 and 2022 the building underwent a thorough renovation as part of an EU-funded project dedicated to saving St. Margaret's Church as a "baroque pearl of Vysočina." The work covered both the facade and the interior, so the fresco and decoration can now be seen close to their original condition.

Why pair a visit with the chateau?

The church and the Jaroměřice chateau were built around the same period under the patronage of the same noble family, which is why the two structures read as a single baroque ensemble. The view of the church tower from the chateau park is one of the town's signature sights, so it's worth planning to see both in a single visit.

FAQ

How old is the current church building? The church received its present baroque form in 1737, though a place of worship had already existed on the site for centuries - the previous Renaissance church burned down in 1631.

Who initiated the baroque reconstruction? Jan Adam of Questenberg started the rebuilding after taking over the Jaroměřice estate in 1700, aiming to create the most beautiful baroque church in the region.

What is the most valuable feature inside? A 450-square-meter ceiling fresco by Karel František Antonín Tepper showing heaven with holy martyrs, complemented by Jan Knor's Eye of Providence motif in the lantern, 44 meters above the floor.

Is the church a protected monument? Yes, it has been listed as a Czech national cultural monument since January 1, 2002.

Was the building restored recently? Yes, a comprehensive renovation took place between 2019 and 2022 under an EU-funded heritage protection project.