Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Jihlava is a former Dominican convent church, regarded as one of the earliest purely Gothic buildings on Czech territory. Standing in the historic core of Jihlava, in the Vysočina region, it now serves as a place of worship for the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and the Old Catholic Church.

How to get there?

The church stands in Jihlava, the seat city of the Vysočina region, at coordinates 49.3977, 15.5906. The building occupies part of the former Dominican monastery complex, close to other historic sites in the old town, making it an easy stop to combine with a walk through Jihlava's historic center.

What will you see?

The church was founded in 1247, and construction continued throughout the 13th century — during this period the perimeter walls, the entrance portal and the triumphal arch separating the chancel from the nave were completed. The vaulting that finished off the structure, however, was not added until the 1380s. Architectural historians count the church among the earliest examples of purely Gothic architecture in Bohemia, built in the spirit of Northern French Gothic — an unusually forward-looking choice for Central Europe in the mid-13th century.

In the 16th century, the building suffered damage from several fires. The repairs carried out afterward were done in Renaissance style, introducing newer stylistic elements into the otherwise Gothic structure. The church continued to serve as the convent church of the neighboring Dominican monastery until 1784, when the monastery was dissolved by decree of Emperor Joseph II. The building then passed into military hands and was converted into a barracks, a role it retained for decades.

Return to religious use

The building resumed its function as a church only in 1947. A turning point in its more recent history came in 2005, when the city of Jihlava purchased it at auction for six million Czech crowns. The purchase was followed by a lengthy, comprehensive reconstruction that secured the historic fabric of the building and restored it to sacred use in much better technical condition. Today, the church hosts services of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and the Old Catholic Church.

When to visit?

Since the church is both an active place of worship and an architectural landmark, it's worth planning a visit around service times and any parish events. Jihlava lies on the route between Prague and Brno, so a stop at the church fits naturally into a longer trip across the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, at any time of year.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Jihlava built? It was founded in 1247, with the walls, portal and triumphal arch completed during the 13th century, while the vaulting was not finished until the 1380s.

Why is the church considered architecturally significant? It is regarded as one of the earliest purely Gothic buildings in Bohemia, built in the spirit of Northern French Gothic, which was an unusual choice for the region at the time.

What happened to the church after the monastery's dissolution in 1784? The building was taken over by the military and used as a barracks; it did not resume its religious function until 1947.

Who owns the church today and which communities use it? Since 2005, the city of Jihlava has owned the building and carried out its reconstruction; it now serves the Czechoslovak Hussite Church and the Old Catholic Church.