Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Jimramov

The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Jimramov is a Baroque parish church standing in the centre of the market town of Jimramov, in the Žďár nad Sázavou District of the Vysočina Region in the Czech Republic. It is the principal church of the local Roman Catholic parish and one of the historic landmarks of Jimramov, standing next to the town's castle.

What is the history of the church in Jimramov?

A church has stood on this site, right beside the Jimramov castle, since as early as the 13th century. The earliest surviving written record mentioning Jimramov itself dates from 1361, and it also refers to a church already standing here at that time. Over the following centuries the building was altered repeatedly, and it received its present Baroque form during a major reconstruction carried out between 1707 and 1715. That reconstruction was designed by the architect Petr Paurus of Myslibořice.

What can visitors see inside the church?

Although the exterior is Baroque, the interior decoration is predominantly Rococo in style. The focal point is the main altar, whose retable is made of artificial marble. It is decorated with a painting of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary by J. Havelka, dated 1755, which reflects the dedication of the church itself. Besides the main altar, the interior also contains a number of side altars, sculptures and decorative elements, all executed in the same consistent 18th-century Rococo style. A crypt was added beneath the church during the same century.

What protected status does the church have?

The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic (kulturní památka). Together with the neighbouring castle, it forms the historic core of Jimramov, part of the town's protected urban heritage zone in the Vysočina Region.

What role does the church play today?

The church continues to serve as the parish church of the Roman Catholic parish of Jimramov, which also covers surrounding villages in this part of the Žďár nad Sázavou district. It hosts regular services as well as events such as the annual Night of Churches, when the building is opened to visitors outside normal liturgical hours.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church in Jimramov located? In the centre of the market town of Jimramov, in the Žďár nad Sázavou District of the Vysočina Region, directly next to the local castle.

When did the church get its current Baroque appearance? Its present form dates from a reconstruction carried out between 1707 and 1715, designed by architect Petr Paurus of Myslibořice, although a church has stood on this site since the 13th century.

What style is the interior decorated in? The interior is Rococo, centred on a main altar with a retable of artificial marble and a 1755 painting of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary by J. Havelka.

Is the church a legally protected monument? Yes, it is listed as a cultural monument (kulturní památka) of the Czech Republic.

Does the church have a crypt? Yes, a crypt was added beneath the church in the 18th century, during the period when its Rococo interior was also taking shape.