Church of Saints Peter and Paul

The Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Hosín stands close to the centre of the village of Hosín, at the junction of the main roads connecting České Budějovice with Hluboká nad Vltavou and with Ševětín. It is the oldest surviving religious building in the area, with roots reaching back to the 13th century, even though the church's current Neo-Romanesque shape only dates from the turn of the 20th century.

How old is the church in Hosín?

The oldest surviving part of the building was constructed between 1260 and 1280 as a small Romanesque church with an apse. During the Gothic period, around 1340, the building was enlarged to meet the growing needs of the parish. Rather than demolishing the original Romanesque structure, builders incorporated it into the new church as a sacristy. It was at this time that the sacristy received valuable fresco decoration, dated to around 1340, which remains the oldest surviving decorative element inside the church today.

What changed during the Baroque period?

During the Baroque era the interior was remodelled with the addition of a gallery, used for performing church music during services. This detail shows that, for centuries, the building served not only as a place of worship but also as a centre of the local community's musical life.

Where does the current Neo-Romanesque building come from?

By the end of the 19th century the existing parish church had become too small, and most of it was demolished. In 1899 the foundation stone was laid for a new Neo-Romanesque church, designed by the builder Jan Sedláček, and construction was completed in 1900. Crucially, the new church was built on the very same spot where a church had stood since the Middle Ages — so although today's building is comparatively young, the site itself has hosted continuous religious use since the 13th century.

Is the church still an active place of worship?

Yes. The Church of Saints Peter and Paul is the active parish church of the Roman Catholic parish of Hosín, with regular Sunday services, and it remains a living centre of the village's religious life.

What is worth seeing inside?

The building's main curiosity is the way it combines two very different eras under one roof: a medieval sacristy with frescoes from around 1340 stands next to a Neo-Romanesque nave from the turn of the 20th century. It is a rare case where an older church was not destroyed during rebuilding but was absorbed into the new structure and survives as an integral part of it.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? In the centre of the village of Hosín, at the crossroads of the roads from České Budějovice to Hluboká nad Vltavou and to Ševětín.

What architectural style does the church represent? The current building is Neo-Romanesque (1899–1900), but it incorporates a medieval sacristy from a Romanesque church built between 1260 and 1280.

Who designed the current church building? The builder Jan Sedláček.

Have any elements survived from before the 19th-century rebuilding? Yes — the sacristy is the former Romanesque church, decorated with frescoes dating to around 1340.

Is the church still used for religious purposes? Yes, it is an active parish church of the Hosín parish with regular Sunday Mass.