Church of Saint Michael

The Church of Saint Michael the Archangel in Polička is a Renaissance building standing beside the old town cemetery, just outside the historic town walls. Today it functions as an active Roman Catholic parish church and ranks among the most significant architectural monuments of the region.

When was the church built and who designed it?

Construction took place between 1572 and 1576. The design is credited to Ambrož Vlach — likely an Italian who had settled in Bohemia — together with Jiří Krejzlík. Interestingly, the building was not originally Catholic at all: it was raised as an Evangelical church, serving Polička's residents at a time when Protestantism held a strong position in the town. Only later, as the region's religious landscape shifted, did the building pass into Catholic hands.

Its location outside the town walls was deliberate. From the start, the church served as a cemetery church, meant to accompany burials taking place away from the crowded town center. That original layout — a church set within its own graveyard — has survived intact and remains one of the site's most distinctive features.

How did the building change over the centuries?

Between 1600 and 1603, a bell tower was added at the cemetery entrance, giving the whole complex a vertical landmark visible from a distance. The first major repair of the church is recorded in 1658, likely made necessary by decades of use and the toll of time on the Renaissance structure.

Another significant change came in the 18th century, when the interior received Rococo furnishings. In the same period, between 1770 and 1774, an ossuary was built on the cemetery grounds — a common solution for churchyard cemeteries of the era, which often ran short of space for new burials.

What makes the architecture of this church distinctive?

The building is a brick, three-aisled structure with a tower rising above the sanctuary — a layout that makes it one of the most important Renaissance monuments in the entire Polička region. The exterior still displays late Gothic features, a sign of the transitional era in which the church was built. The interior, by contrast, is purely Renaissance, with no lingering Gothic elements — stylistically consistent throughout.

This combination of a Gothic-influenced exterior and a Renaissance interior makes the Church of Saint Michael a compelling example of transitional architecture, documenting the shift in styles within Czech religious building at the end of the 16th century. The building has been listed as a cultural monument since 1958.

Why is Bohuslav Martinů buried by this church?

The cemetery surrounding the church holds the grave of Bohuslav Martinů, one of the most important Czech composers of the 20th century, who was born in Polička. This connection means the site draws not only visitors interested in sacred architecture, but also those with an interest in classical music, for whom the composer's grave is a key stop within the town.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can visitors go inside the Church of Saint Michael? The church is an active parish church with regular services, so a visit is best planned outside Mass times.

What architectural style does the church represent? Primarily Renaissance, especially in the interior, though the exterior facade retains late Gothic elements typical of the transitional period at the end of the 16th century.

Why was the church built outside the town walls? Because it served from the outset as a cemetery church, and cemeteries were traditionally located away from the built-up town center.

Who was Bohuslav Martinů, whose grave lies by the church? He was a composer born in Polička, one of the most significant figures in 20th-century Czech classical music, buried in the churchyard cemetery.