Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Nové Město na Moravě)

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Nové Město na Moravě is a modest but historically rich building that has stood on Malá street in the town centre since the late 16th century, right next to the cemetery it still serves today.

What is the history behind the church?

The church was built in 1596 as a single-nave structure with a semi-circular chancel and an elongated nave. In its earliest form it had no tower at all - just a small polygonal turret on the western side of the roof. Between 1749 and 1750 the nave was extended and a wooden musicians' gallery was added inside. The building did not escape disaster: a fire destroyed it in 1801. A thorough reconstruction followed only in 1853, when the wooden gallery was replaced with a masonry one and a vestibule with a staircase was added. It was not until 1883 that the church received the tall, 35-metre tower with five bells that now defines its silhouette.

What will you see today?

The present-day building is a modest, single-nave structure with an elongated floor plan, topped by the tall tower visible from many parts of town. It functions as a filial and cemetery church of the Roman Catholic parish of Nové Město na Moravě, and the surrounding cemetery is inseparable from the site - generations of the town's residents have been buried here. The church is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, which safeguards its historic character for the future.

When is the best time to visit?

The church comes to life mainly around two kinds of events: funeral services, held here regularly because of the adjoining cemetery, and the annual pilgrimage Mass on the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (15 August), when believers from the surrounding area gather inside. That is the best time to see the interior in use and experience the local religious atmosphere of Nové Město. Outside those occasions, the church makes a quiet, low-key stop on a walk through the historic town centre - no crowds, no queues.

Frequently asked questions

Can you visit the church on an ordinary day? As a filial and cemetery church, it is not kept open around the clock like the main parish church - the easiest way in is around a funeral service or the annual pilgrimage feast.

Where did the tower come from? The original 1596 building had no tower, only a small turret. The current 35-metre tower with five bells was added only in 1883.

Why is the church next to a cemetery? It has served as the cemetery chapel for the parish of Nové Město na Moravě from the start, and funeral Masses are still held here today.

What happened to the church in 1801? It was destroyed by fire, and a thorough reconstruction only followed half a century later, in 1853.