Church of Saint Margaret (Strakonice)

The Church of Saint Margaret in Strakonice is a modest yet historically layered building standing in the Strakonice I district, close to the town's famous Knights Hospitaller castle that has shaped the identity of this South Bohemian town for centuries.

How did the Church of Saint Margaret come to be?

The story begins in the early 14th century, when a hospital with a cemetery and a chapel dedicated to Saint Margaret was founded opposite the Church of St. Prokop, right beneath the walls of the Strakonice Johannite commandery castle. The founder was most likely Bavor III or his brother Vilém Bavor — both of whose wives were named Margaret, which explains the choice of patron saint. The chapel was meant to spare townspeople the long walk to the distant parish church in Lom.

When did the chapel become a full church?

Probably at the start of the 15th century, the modest chapel was replaced by a proper church building. Interestingly, from the late 15th century until the period following the Battle of White Mountain, the church was administered by non-Catholic clergy, even though the Johannites formally remained the town's rulers and the church's patrons — a situation common in many Bohemian towns of the era, where secular authority and the religious practice of the local population diverged.

Where does today's building come from?

The church's current form is largely the result of a major reconstruction carried out on the town's initiative between 1580 and 1583. The work was led by the Italian builder Vincenc Vogarelli of Bormio. The result was a single-nave church on a rectangular floor plan without a separate presbytery — a layout that still echoed late Gothic building traditions while adopting Renaissance-era proportions inside.

What happened to the tower, and how did the church survive the 20th century?

Between 1873 and 1874, the tower's lookout gallery was removed and replaced with a tall, pointed spire, work carried out by the builder František K. Lenk. The church's history was not an easy one: it suffered serious damage during the 1895 flood, and its technical condition remained poor for years afterward. A thorough repair was only completed in 1929–1930.

The real blow to the church's surroundings came in the early 1970s. The old hospital building and many other historic structures nearby were demolished, and the church itself ended up sitting below the level of a newly built bridge ramp over the Otava River. This change to the surrounding terrain accelerated the building's decline — the church deteriorated so severely that it was closed in 1995. A comprehensive renovation that restored it to a dignified state was completed in 2006.

What should visitors know today?

The Church of Saint Margaret stands today as a witness to several centuries of Strakonice's history — from a medieval hospital chapel, through the religious tensions of the Reformation era, a Renaissance-era rebuilding, to postwar urban changes that reshaped its immediate surroundings. Its proximity to the Johannite castle makes it easy to combine both sites into a single walk through the historic center of Strakonice.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Church of Saint Margaret in Strakonice built? The first chapel of this dedication was founded in the early 14th century as part of a town hospital, and a full-sized church was most likely erected in the early 15th century.

Who founded the original chapel? Most likely Bavor III or his brother Vilém Bavor — both married to women named Margaret.

Where does the church's current appearance come from? From a major reconstruction between 1580 and 1583, led by the Italian builder Vincenc Vogarelli of Bormio.

Why was the church closed in the 1990s? Because of years of progressive deterioration, worsened by changes to its surroundings in the early 1970s (demolitions and a new bridge ramp). The church was closed in 1995, with restoration completed by 2006.