Church of St. Thomas

Church of St. Thomas stands on the south side of Moravské náměstí (Moravian Square) in the historic centre of Brno, within the Brno-střed district of the Brno-město administrative area in the South Moravian Region. Originally an Augustinian monastery church, it ranks among the oldest religious buildings in the city.

When was the church founded?

The church and its adjoining Augustinian monastery were established by a founding charter dated 2 February 1350. The project was commissioned by John Henry of Luxembourg, Margrave of Moravia and brother of Emperor Charles IV, together with his son Jobst of Moravia. From the outset the building served two purposes: a monastery church for the Augustinian hermits and a burial place for the Luxembourg margraves who ruled Moravia. The original Gothic structure was dedicated to the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary and St. Thomas the Apostle.

Who is buried inside?

A tomb in front of the main altar holds the remains of Margrave John Henry of Luxembourg and his son Jobst of Moravia, titular King of the Germans. This makes the church one of the few sites in Moravia directly tied to the Luxembourg dynasty's rule over the region.

What survives from the medieval foundation?

The most notable relic from the church's early history is its bell, cast in 1393. Measuring 205 centimetres in diameter and weighing roughly seven and a half tonnes, it is one of the oldest and heaviest historic bells in Moravia.

Why does the church look Baroque today?

The building suffered severe damage during the Thirty Years' War, when Swedish troops besieged Brno. The destruction was extensive enough that the church had to be largely rebuilt between 1665 and 1675, under a design by Jan Křtitel Erna. That reconstruction gave the church its present Baroque appearance, layered over its Gothic origins.

What is the church used for today?

The church still functions as an active Roman Catholic parish church. It sits on Moravské náměstí, one of Brno's central squares, making it an easy landmark to find while exploring the city centre.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Church of St. Thomas Brno's cathedral? No. Brno's cathedral is the Cathedral of Sts Peter and Paul on Petrov hill. The Church of St. Thomas is a separate parish church on Moravské náměstí, though its scale sometimes leads visitors to assume otherwise.

Who is buried in the church? The tomb in front of the main altar contains the remains of Margrave John Henry of Luxembourg and his son, Jobst of Moravia.

How old is the church? Its founding charter dates to 1350, but the building visitors see today largely reflects a Baroque reconstruction carried out between 1665 and 1675, after Thirty Years' War damage.

Where exactly is the church located? On the south side of Moravské náměstí, in the Brno-střed district of central Brno.