Church of Saint Maurice (Kroměříž)

The Church of Saint Maurice ranks among the largest and most important Gothic buildings in the Czech Republic. It stands on Stojanovo náměstí in the heart of Kroměříž, just a short walk from the Archbishop's Château, and its twin towers have shaped the town's skyline for more than seven centuries.

Who founded the church, and when?

Construction began in the second half of the 13th century under Bishop Bruno von Schauenburg of Olomouc, likely shortly after 1262, when a collegiate chapter was established alongside the church. Older masonry fragments found within the oldest sections suggest the site already carried religious significance before Bruno's foundation. The bishop himself was buried beneath the main altar in 1281.

How did the building take shape over the centuries?

The church was raised in the early Gothic style on a rectangular plan, flanked by a pair of towers — a layout typical of major episcopal foundations of the era. Construction dragged on until the end of the 16th century, interrupted twice by Hussite raids, including a serious sack in 1432 that left the building in disrepair. Recovery only came around 1500, when Bishop Stanislav Thurzo redeemed Kroměříž from pawn and restored it to episcopal control. Bishop Stanislav Pavlovský later added Renaissance-style interior updates, and around 1582 the still-unfinished southern tower was raised to greater height. The church was damaged again during the Thirty Years' War and subsequently repaired. Cardinal Schrattenbach later added a Baroque funerary chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, adjoining the northern aisle.

Where does its current Gothic look come from?

A fire in 1836 badly damaged the church. The repair that followed was conceived as a purist regothicization overseen by architect Arche, with support from Maximilian Somerau-Beckh. By 1848 both towers had received polygonal, neo-Gothic superstructures, with a two-arm spiral staircase built into one of them. It's this 19th-century regothicization that gives the church its coherent Gothic appearance today, despite centuries of stylistic layering underneath.

What should visitors look out for?

The church is considered one of the most valuable examples of Gothic sacred architecture in the country, notable for its sheer scale and its twin-tower layout, uncommon for the region. A Baroque funerary chapel funded by Cardinal Schrattenbach adjoins the northern aisle. The building isn't open on a regular daily schedule — access can be occasional — so it's worth checking current opening times with the parish of St. Maurice (svmoric.net) or the local tourist information office before visiting.

Frequently asked questions

Who founded the Church of Saint Maurice in Kroměříž? Bishop Bruno von Schauenburg of Olomouc founded it in the second half of the 13th century and was buried beneath the main altar in 1281.

Why does the church have two towers? A twin-tower layout was typical of large early-Gothic episcopal foundations. Work on the towers continued for centuries, including the heightening of the southern tower around 1582, until a 19th-century regothicization gave both towers their current polygonal, neo-Gothic tops by 1848.

Was the church ever damaged or destroyed? Yes — it was sacked twice by Hussite raiders (notably in 1432), damaged during the Thirty Years' War, and gutted by a fire in 1836 that led to a thorough Gothic-revival restoration.

Can visitors go inside? The church isn't open every day; access is occasional, so it's best to check current hours with the parish (svmoric.net) or a local tourist information point beforehand.

Where exactly is the church located? At Stojanovo náměstí 1139/2 in Kroměříž, right next to the Archbishop's Château and the town's historic center.