Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint John of Nepomuk in Kvasice

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint John of Nepomuk stands on the town square in Kvasice, a village in the Kroměříž District of the Zlín Region in Moravia, right next to the local castle. This late-Baroque church is considered one of the most impressive sacred buildings in the Moravian countryside.

Who built the church, and when?

Construction was initiated in 1730 by Joachim Adam, Count Rottal, hereditary lord of the Kvasice estate, who returned from a journey abroad determined to raise a magnificent new church on his land. The foundation stone was blessed on 15 May 1730, the eve of the feast day of the church's patron, Saint John of Nepomuk. The design came from architect Tomáš Sturmer, and work progressed quickly: the roof was in place by 1733, interior work began in 1737, and the church was completed in 1740, consecrated on 17 July that year by the Prince-Bishop of Olomouc, Ernest John, Count of Liechtenstein.

What does the building look like?

The church is a single-nave structure on a Greek-cross floor plan, 38 metres long and 12 metres wide, with room for up to 1,500 people. Its convex facade and two diagonally placed towers give it a distinctive silhouette; the tower walls reach 27 metres, rising to 45 metres including the crosses on top. Metal domes were fitted onto the towers in August 1733. Three bells followed in 1734, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Saint John of Nepomuk and Saint Donatus, and a fourth, honouring the Holy Cross and Saint Martin, in 1738.

What can visitors find inside?

Beneath the choir lie three crypts holding the remains of, among others, parish priest Jan Josef Kolařík (d. 1744) and the church's founder, Joachim Adam Rottal (d. 1746). The real treasure of the interior is a set of altar paintings by Václav Vavřinec Reiner, one of the leading Czech Baroque painters — believed to be his only work in Moravia. The 16-square-metre main altarpiece depicts the Assumption of the Virgin Mary alongside scenes from the life of Saint John of Nepomuk, while the side altars display his paintings of the Holy Family of Nazareth and of Saint Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata. Additional paintings of Saint Vitus and the Five Martyrs come from Ignác Viktorin Raab, and sculptor Jan Jiří Schauberger created the statues of Saints Joachim and Anne flanking the main altar, plus Saints Florian and Barbara and Saints Clare and Francis of Paola at the side altars. Two Baroque statues from 1741, depicting Saints Donatus and Florian, stand outside. A glass coffin inside holds the relics of Saint Innocence, brought from the Roman catacombs in 1740.

What has changed over the centuries?

The original Baroque painted windows were destroyed in May 1945 and replaced in 1951 with stained glass depicting the apostles Peter and Paul and Saints Cyril and Methodius. The Stations of the Cross were donated in 1775 by Joseph Engelmann, the estate's chief administrative officer at the time. The first baptism took place in 1740, when three girls — each named Anna — were christened, and the first weddings joined Tomáš Lubalík and Katerina, followed by Josef Štěrba and Anna Novotná.

What is the church's status today?

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint John of Nepomuk in Kvasice is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, and its rich furnishings and history keep it an important landmark among Moravia's heritage sites.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the church in Kvasice located? On the town square in Kvasice, in the Kroměříž District of the Zlín Region, right next to the local castle.

When was the church built? Construction began in 1730 at the initiative of Joachim Adam, Count Rottal, and the church was consecrated on 17 July 1740.

Who designed the church? The architect Tomáš Sturmer.

What is the main highlight inside? The altar paintings by Václav Vavřinec Reiner, including the 16-square-metre main altarpiece showing the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Saint John of Nepomuk — believed to be his only work in Moravia.

Are there crypts beneath the church? Yes, three crypts beneath the choir hold the remains of the church's founder, Joachim Adam Rottal, and parish priest Jan Josef Kolařík, among others.

Is the church a protected monument? Yes, it is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.