Church of the Divine Heart of Jesus in Hodslavice

The Church of the Divine Heart of Jesus in Hodslavice is a Neo-Romanesque Roman Catholic church standing right on the village's main road, close to its center and surrounded by a cemetery. Completed in the early 20th century, it has been protected as a cultural monument since 1999 and remains one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Moravian-Silesian region.

How to get there?

The church sits directly on road II/483, which runs through Hodslavice, making it an easy stop for anyone driving through the Nový Jičín district. Since the building is right by the village center, visitors arriving by public bus can reach it within a few minutes' walk from the local stop. The coordinates are 49.5373514, 18.0248717.

What will you see?

The church was built between 1905 and 1906 to a design by Prague architect Eduard Sochor, who reportedly took Paris's Sacré-Cœur basilica on Montmartre as his model. The building measures 44 meters in length, 23 meters in width and 17 meters in height, while its tower reaches 50 meters — tall enough to be visible from much of the village and the surrounding hills. The foundation stone was consecrated on 29 June 1905, and the first services in the finished church were held on 30 March 1907. The Neo-Romanesque style, the massive body of the church and its towering spire create a striking contrast with the wooden vernacular architecture typical of the region. The new building replaced an earlier, undersized wooden church dedicated to St. Andrew, which had previously served the village's congregation. A cemetery surrounds the church and has been part of the site since it was built.

When to visit?

Since the church is an active parish church, the best time to see the interior is during services, particularly Sunday mornings, when the building is open to worshippers and visitors alike. The exterior and the surrounding cemetery grounds can be visited year-round, and in spring and summer the greenery around the building complements the red brick and stone details of the facade especially well. It's worth combining a visit here with a look at other sights in Hodslavice, since the church stands practically in the middle of the village.

Why is this church worth seeing?

The Hodslavice Church of the Divine Heart of Jesus stands out among rural churches in the region for its scale and architectural ambition — modeling a small Moravian parish church on the Paris Sacré-Cœur was an unusual choice at the time. Its 50-meter tower makes it a landmark visible from many points around Hodslavice and along road II/483. For anyone interested in early 20th-century sacred architecture, it's a rare example of the Neo-Romanesque style translated to a Moravian village on a monumental scale.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Church of the Divine Heart of Jesus in Hodslavice built? Construction began in 1905 — the foundation stone was consecrated on 29 June 1905, and the first services took place on 30 March 1907.

Who designed the church? It was designed by Prague architect Eduard Sochor, who modeled the building on the Sacré-Cœur basilica in Paris.

Is the church a protected monument? Yes, it has been listed as a cultural monument since 1999.

What stood on this site before the current church? A smaller wooden church dedicated to St. Andrew previously served the parish before being replaced by the current brick building.