Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Rychtářov

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Rychtářov is a Roman Catholic parish church located in the village of Rychtářov, in the Vyškov District of the South Moravian Region, on the foothills of the Drahany Highlands. Modest in scale but distinctive in silhouette, it has marked the village skyline for more than two centuries and remains its principal landmark.

When was the church built?

The current building dates from 1781–1783, when it was constructed by master builder Malenovský of Slavkov in the Baroque style. It replaced an earlier, smaller church and has served as the parish church for Rychtářov and the surrounding area ever since.

What does the church look like?

The building is a single-nave structure with a short, massive, four-sided tower. Interestingly, for decades the tower was not physically joined to the main body of the church — it stood apart, just in front of the entrance. Only in 1849 was a connecting section added, linking the tower to the nave and giving the church roughly the form it has today.

What can visitors see inside?

The church interior has changed several times over the years. Above the entrance is an organ gallery housing an organ built by the Rieger company of Krnov, dating from 1919. The nave holds two side altars — one dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius, the other to St. Anne. In 1901, a new marble main altar was installed, funded through a public collection among parishioners, and the church floor was replaced during the same round of works.

What is the church used for today?

The church continues to function as an active parish church, hosting Sunday Mass and religious observances for the community of Rychtářov. For visitors exploring the area around Vyškov, it offers an example of modest rural sacred architecture typical of the South Moravian countryside, with its building history still legible in the structure itself — most visibly at the point where the tower meets the nave.

Where exactly is the church located?

The church stands in the village of Rychtářov, on the foothills of the Drahany Highlands, in the Vyškov District of the South Moravian Region (coordinates: 49.3286 N, 16.9184 E).

Frequently asked questions

When was the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Rychtářov built? The present building was constructed between 1781 and 1783 in the Baroque style.

Who built the church? It was built by master builder Malenovský of Slavkov.

Has the tower always been attached to the church? No. Until 1849 the tower stood separately in front of the church building. A connecting section was added that year, joining the tower to the nave.

What is inside the church? An organ gallery with a 1919 Rieger organ from Krnov, two side altars dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius and to St. Anne, and a marble main altar installed in 1901 through a public collection.

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