Church of Saint Nicholas, Malenovice (Zlín)

The Church of Saint Nicholas stands on a hill in Malenovice, a district of Zlín with around 7,500 residents, on the site of a former stronghold. The church overlooks a landscaped square lined with Baroque statues and counts among the oldest traces of settlement in this part of the city — the first chapel here dates back to 1386.

How did the church begin?

The earliest building on the site was a Gothic chapel raised in 1386. It stood for several centuries before, in the mid-19th century, the local community decided it needed a larger church.

Why was the 1845 rebuild so unusual?

Work on the new, larger church began in 1845, but the builders used an unusual method: rather than demolishing the old Gothic chapel first, they built new walls around it, only removing the smaller original structure once it stood enclosed inside. This meant the church could keep functioning for much of the rebuilding process.

What does the church look like today?

The present building is single-naved, with a presbytery and sacristy. A tower was added in the late 19th century, carrying four bells and a clock — its front-facing silhouette is what gives the church its distinctive vertical profile, visible from the square below.

What is inside worth seeing?

The ceiling paintings date from 1863 and were made by the academic painter Schmidt. The main altar is decorated with carved woodwork produced in the early 20th century by F. Celler, an artist from Olomouc. From the original 1386 Gothic building, Knight Tetour's tombstone and the original altar paintings have survived — a rare pairing of medieval and 19th-century elements under one roof.

What surrounds the church?

In front of the church lies a landscaped square set with a group of Baroque statues: Saint John, Saint Florian, Saint John of Nepomuk, Saint Paul and Saint Wendelin. A parish house stands nearby. The whole complex — church, square and statues — sits on raised ground, on the site of a former fortress, at an elevation of 213 metres above sea level.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Church of Saint Nicholas located? In Malenovice, a district of Zlín, on a hill at 213 metres above sea level, at coordinates 49.206 N, 17.595 E.

When was the first church on this site built? A Gothic chapel already stood here in 1386, long before the current church of 1845.

Have any elements from the medieval chapel survived? Yes — Knight Tetour's tombstone and the original altar paintings, both dating from the 1386 building.

How many bells does the church tower have? Four bells and a clock, housed in a tower added in the late 19th century.

What can be seen on the square in front of the church? A set of Baroque statues of Saint John, Saint Florian, Saint John of Nepomuk, Saint Paul and Saint Wendelin, plus the nearby parish house.