Church of Saint Mark

The Church of Saint Mark is a small Baroque church standing in the very center of the village of Těchobuz, right next to the local castle and the municipal office, in the Pelhřimov district of the Vysočina region. Modest in appearance, it carries over six centuries of history and an unusual episode connected to one of the most important Czech thinkers of the 19th century.

Where exactly is the church?

Těchobuz is a small village on the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, roughly 8 km northwest of Pacov and 10 km southeast of Mladá Vožice. The church stands at the heart of the village, just a short walk from the municipal office, next to the local castle and the Bernard Bolzano Gallery housed in a former granary. For a settlement with only a few dozen residents, Těchobuz is unusually rich in protected monuments, and the Church of Saint Mark is listed as a cultural heritage site of the Czech Republic.

How old is the church?

The village itself is first documented in 1352, and the church appears in written sources as early as 1365, making it one of the oldest recorded religious buildings in the area. The original structure was likely Romanesque, later modified in Gothic and then Renaissance style. Its current early Baroque form dates from a major reconstruction in the second half of the 17th century. The freestanding bell tower was actually added earlier, in 1603, which explains why its architectural character differs somewhat from the rest of the building.

What can you see inside and outside?

The church has a single-nave rectangular layout with a rectangular presbytery, flanked by a square sacristy that includes an oratory on its upper floor. The west façade is topped with a distinctive volute gable, typical of the period's architecture in this part of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. Inside, the Classical-style main altar and pulpit date from around the mid-19th century. A notable detail is the red marble epitaph of Antonín of Těchobuz, carved with a relief of a sleeping Chronos — a symbol of passing time rarely found in a village church of this size. Until the early 19th century, a cemetery surrounded the building; it was later relocated north of the village, toward the road to Velký Ježov.

What is the church's connection to Bernard Bolzano?

The most compelling chapter of the site's history involves Bernard Bolzano, a philosopher, mathematician, and theologian who ranks among the most significant figures in 19th-century Czech thought. Barred from lecturing at Charles University in Prague, Bolzano lived from 1825 to 1841 at the nearby castle with the Hoffmann family, owners of the local glassworks. It was during this period, spent partly in Těchobuz, that he wrote one of his major works, the "Wissenschaftslehre" ("Theory of Science"). While staying there, Bolzano attended morning masses at the Church of Saint Mark. In 1981, on the 200th anniversary of his birth, a commemorative plaque was unveiled on the castle façade, and since 2007 the former granary next to the castle has housed the Bernard Bolzano Gallery dedicated to his life and work.

When is the best time to visit?

The church itself is not permanently open to visitors, so it's worth planning ahead — for example, combining a visit with a stop at the nearby castle and the Bernard Bolzano Gallery, both of which keep set opening hours during the summer season. The village as a whole, with its castle, bell tower, and fishponds typical of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands landscape, is best explored in spring and summer, when local attractions are open.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Church of Saint Mark in Těchobuz? The church is first mentioned in written records in 1365, though its current early Baroque form dates from a reconstruction in the second half of the 17th century.

Is the church connected to Bernard Bolzano? Yes — from 1825 to 1841 the philosopher lived at the nearby castle and attended masses at this church while working on his major philosophical treatise.

What can be seen inside the church? A Classical-style main altar and pulpit from the mid-19th century, along with the red marble epitaph of Antonín of Těchobuz featuring a relief of a sleeping Chronos.

Is the church a protected heritage site? Yes, the Church of Saint Mark is listed as a cultural heritage monument of the Czech Republic.