Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary

Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary in Dymokury is a Baroque building erected in 1723–1725 in Central Bohemia, standing right next to the local chateau. It ranks among the more distinctive examples of church architecture in the region, and its shape and history are closely tied to the former owners of the Dymokury estate.

When was the church built, and who paid for it?

Construction of the present church was commissioned by Princess Marie Antonie Montecuculi, who financed the new building from 1723 onward, replacing an older structure that had stood on the same site. Work progressed quickly: the church was solemnly consecrated in 1725. The tower came later, added only in 1761, which explains why it reads as a slightly separate element from the main body of the church.

Who designed it?

The design is attributed to Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel, one of the leading architects of Bohemian Baroque, celebrated for blending Baroque forms with Gothic references. Authorship is not documented with certainty; most sources describe it as a probable attribution rather than a confirmed fact, so it may reflect the influence of his workshop rather than his direct hand.

What does the building look like?

The church follows a centrally planned Baroque layout, an unusual choice for a village church of this size. From the outside the structure reads as an oval; inside, the plan shifts to an octagon interlaced with a cross-shaped layout. Rectangular chapels occupy the corners, and a slender, prism-shaped tower rises on the west front. The nave is covered by a monastery vault, a vaulting technique common in Central European Baroque churches of the period. Together these elements give the interior an unusually dynamic, light-filled character for a rural parish church.

What can visitors see inside?

The oldest surviving furnishing is a pewter baptismal font dating to 1605 — older than the current building itself, a detail that confirms it survived from the earlier church that once stood on this site. The church also served as a burial place for the Czernín family, one of the well-known Bohemian noble families with historical ties to the region.

What about the cemetery surrounding the church?

The church is surrounded by a cemetery that was originally laid out on a star-shaped plan. In 1909 the grounds were extended on the southern side, which disrupted the original symmetry; today the star-shaped layout survives only on the northern side. It is a relatively rare example of a historic cemetery design that has partly endured despite later expansion.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? In the village of Dymokury in Central Bohemia, Czech Republic, directly next to the local chateau.

How old is the current building? The present church dates from 1723–1725; its tower was added later, in 1761.

Is the church still in use? It continues to function as a parish church and remains part of the village's active religious life; visitors should check locally or with the parish for exact opening arrangements.

What is the oldest object inside the church? A pewter baptismal font from 1605, predating the current building itself.