Church of the Name of the Virgin Mary

The Church of the Name of the Virgin Mary in Rejvíz is a small Classicist church standing in the village of Rejvíz, part of the municipality of Zlaté Hory in the Jeseník District, Olomouc Region, Czech Republic. The church sits at coordinates 50.229859, 17.308654 in the Zlaté Hory Highlands, close to the Polish border, and remains one of the few stone-built religious landmarks in this stretch of the Jeseník foothills.

When and how was the church built?

The church was constructed between 1808 and 1809. Its construction was backed by Johann Rother, the dean of Frývaldov and episcopal commissioner, who secured permission from the Bishop of Wrocław, Josef Kristián Hohenlohe. The bishop not only approved the project but also donated all the timber needed for the build. The original plan called for only a small chapel, but the generosity of local donors made it possible to complete a proper, if modest, church instead.

What architectural style does it represent?

The building is a single-nave structure made of rubble stone, typical of the modest sacred architecture found in this region around the turn of the 19th century. A bell tower rises above the entrance, topped with a pyramidal roof — the most distinctive feature of the building and one that is visible from the road running through the village.

What is inside the church?

The interior preserves valuable furnishings dating from the 19th century, including historic organ pipes and sculptures created by the Silesian sculptors B. and R. Kutzer, who came from nearby Horní Údolí — a village once known for its stone-carving and sculpting traditions tied to the surrounding quarries.

What is the church's status today?

The church's role in the community has shifted several times over the centuries. It served as a filial (subsidiary) church from 1814, was elevated to parish church status in 1876, and reverted to a filial church again after 1973, coming under the administration of a neighboring parish. Since 2001, the building has been listed as a Czech cultural monument (kulturní památka), formally recognizing its historical and architectural value to the region.

Who should visit?

The church in Rejvíz appeals mainly to travelers exploring the Jeseník area and the nearby Rejvíz Nature Reserve, known for its peat bogs and the small Mechové jezírko lake. Modest in scale but historically well documented, the church serves as a natural landmark for anyone walking through the village and pairs well with a route combining the natural attractions of the Zlaté Hory Highlands with local sacred architecture.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? In the village of Rejvíz, part of the municipality of Zlaté Hory in the Jeseník District, Olomouc Region, at coordinates 50.229859, 17.308654.

Who financed the construction of the church? Construction in 1808–1809 was supported by Johann Rother, dean of Frývaldov, while permission and building timber were provided by the Bishop of Wrocław, Josef Kristián Hohenlohe.

Is the church a protected monument? Yes, it has been listed as a Czech cultural monument since 2001.

What is worth seeing inside? Historic organ pipes and sculptures by the Silesian sculptors B. and R. Kutzer from Horní Údolí.

Is it still a parish church? No — after 1973 it reverted to filial church status, following a period as a parish church between 1876 and 1973.