Church of Saint Mary Magdalene

The Church of Saint Mary Magdalene stands at the corner of Masarykova and Františkánská streets right in the heart of Brno, just steps from the city's main pedestrian avenue. This modest-looking Roman Catholic church has roots that reach back to the expulsion of Brno's Jewish community in the 15th century, while its current form dates from the mid-17th century, when the Franciscan order settled here after losing their original monastery.

Why is the church located exactly here?

Brno's Jewish community had lived in the southeastern part of the city since at least the mid-13th century, and a synagogue once stood on this very spot. After the Jews were expelled from the city under Ladislaus the Posthumous, the abandoned synagogue was converted around 1454 into a small church dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene. Today's church stands on the foundations of that earlier building — and, before it, of the synagogue itself.

How did the Franciscans end up here?

The Franciscan monastery in Brno was founded in 1451 near the former Jewish Gate, alongside a church dedicated to Saint Bernardine of Siena. In 1643, when Brno faced a Swedish siege during the Thirty Years' War, the city's defenders demolished and burned the monastery and its church for defensive reasons. As compensation, the friars were given the small Church of Saint Mary Magdalene along with four houses, and relocated to this site.

When was the current building constructed?

Between 1651 and 1654, the Franciscans rebuilt the older church from its foundations, creating the structure that survives, in essence, to this day. The building is generally attributed to the builder Ondřej Erný. Between 1654 and 1671, the order went on to add an adjoining monastery complete with a hospital and pharmacy, turning the site into a complex serving both worship and care for the sick. The church itself is a straightforward, relatively compact building by Baroque standards, measuring 36 meters in length and 25 meters in width, without the ornate exterior found on many other Baroque churches in Brno.

What is worth seeing inside?

The interior's main artistic highlight is an imposing Baroque high altar dating from 1736. It was designed by the sculptor Adam Nesmann and built by the carpenter František Huk. The altar stands out as the church's principal decorative feature, offering a striking contrast to the otherwise plain architecture of the building.

Can visitors tour the church today?

Much of the church's current appearance comes from a reconstruction carried out in 1852. In 2019, however, a serious water damage incident affected the sanctuary, which has since been temporarily reinforced with a wooden floor while the parish prepares a full renovation. As a result, the church is currently accessible only occasionally — at present, it opens to visitors every Wednesday. Despite this limited access, the building remains protected as a cultural monument and is recognized as a significant part of Brno's history.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene in Brno? The current building dates from 1651–1654, though it stands on the site of an earlier church converted from a synagogue around 1454. Its present appearance largely reflects a reconstruction carried out in 1852.

Who built the church? The building is attributed to Ondřej Erný, who constructed it for the Brno Franciscans after their earlier monastery was demolished for defensive reasons in 1643.

Is the church open to visitors? Because of damage from a 2019 water incident, the church is currently open only occasionally — on Wednesdays — until a planned renovation is completed.

What is the most valuable feature inside? The Baroque high altar from 1736, designed by sculptor Adam Nesmann and built by carpenter František Huk.