Church of Saint Wenceslaus

Church of Saint Wenceslaus in Stonařov is a Gothic-rooted Baroque parish church standing right at the heart of the small town of Stonařov, in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic, just a short drive from Jihlava. It is the town's main architectural landmark and the parish church of the local Roman Catholic community.

How do you get to the church?

The church sits on Stonařov's central square, so it's impossible to miss once you reach the town — its tower is visible from every approach. Stonařov lies along the route connecting Jihlava with the southern part of the Vysočina Region, making it an easy stop for anyone exploring the countryside around Jihlava by car. Parking is readily available around the square, which also serves as a natural starting point for a walk through the town.

What is the history behind the building?

The church's origins go back to the Middle Ages — two Romanesque windows preserved in the south wall point to roots predating the later Gothic rebuilding. The church and its rectory are already documented in a written record from 1359, confirming that by the 14th century it functioned as a fully established Gothic parish church. In 1598 a Renaissance tower was added, and it still defines the building's silhouette today. Another major transformation came in the 18th century, when the church was rebuilt in the Baroque style; in 1804 the vaulting of the nave and chancel was completed alongside a thorough restoration of the entire structure — the appearance the church has kept ever since. The tower itself was repaired twice more, in 1842 and again in 1911–1912. Surviving parish records date back to 1637, making Stonařov's parish one with a well-documented, centuries-long continuity.

What will you see on site?

The church is a single-nave Baroque building with a Gothic core, topped by a polygonal chancel and a slender, pyramid-shaped tower — a layout typical of rural parish churches in the region, but here layered with visible traces of several building periods on its facades. The grounds around the church occupy a former, now-disused cemetery, and three surviving tombstones from the original burial ground are set into the wall by the church entrance, worth a look before stepping inside. The complex also includes a historic Renaissance charnel house (ossuary) and a chapel; together, the church, the charnel house and the chapel are protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. It is precisely this combination of a parish church with a Renaissance ossuary that draws architecture enthusiasts from across the Vysočina Region to Stonařov.

When is the best time to visit?

The church is best appreciated in daylight, when the light brings out the facade details and makes it easier to distinguish the different building phases — from the Romanesque windows to the Baroque plasterwork. Stonařov is a quiet town without crowds of tourists, so a visit can be planned at almost any time of year, easily combined with exploring the area around Jihlava.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Church of Saint Wenceslaus located? In the center of the town of Stonařov, in the Vysočina Region, a short drive from Jihlava.

How old is the church? Its origins trace back to the Middle Ages — the Romanesque windows in the south wall and a written record from 1359 point to a history spanning several centuries, while its present Baroque appearance dates from the restoration completed in 1804.

What else is worth seeing near the church? A Renaissance charnel house (ossuary) and a chapel on the grounds of the former cemetery, plus three historic tombstones preserved at the church entrance.

Is the church still used for religious services? Yes, it remains an active parish church of the Roman Catholic parish of Stonařov.