Church of the Visitation of Our Lady

The Church of the Visitation of Our Lady in Lechovice is a Baroque, twin-towered pilgrimage church in South Moravia, in the Znojmo district of the Czech Republic. Set on a small hill above the village, it has served for more than three centuries both as the local parish church and as the destination of an annual pilgrimage.

Where is the church located?

Lechovice is a small village in the Znojmo district of the South Moravian Region, close to the Austrian border. The church stands on a hill overlooking the village, so its two towers are visible from a distance long before you reach the settlement itself. The building is listed as a protected cultural monument and remains the most recognizable landmark in Lechovice.

How was the Baroque church built?

The design for the twin-towered church was drawn up in 1717 by the Tyrolean Baroque architect Christian Alexander Oedtl. Construction itself ran from 1718 to 1722 under the Viennese builder Christian Damel, with funding provided by the nearby Premonstratensian monastery in Louka near Znojmo. By 1722 the main body of the church was finished, while the two towers were not completed until roughly six years later.

Why did Lechovice become a pilgrimage site?

The origins of the cult here go back to the late 17th century. At the foot of the hill, next to a spring by a large oak tree, Melchior Pfeiffer of Borotice placed a life-size, late Gothic statue of the Madonna that had come from the Louka monastery. On 2 July 1695, the feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, the first pilgrimage took place at this spot, and the tradition has continued ever since: pilgrims still gather in Lechovice on the same date every year.

What can visitors see inside?

The church interior is decorated with frescoes painted by the artist Jan Michael Fissé. Together with the twin-towered Baroque exterior and the site's long pilgrimage history, these murals are one of the main reasons to step inside.

What damage has the church survived over the centuries?

The building's history has not been peaceful. In November 1805, and again in 1809, French soldiers looted the church during the Napoleonic Wars. A fire in 1871 destroyed the left tower, which had to be rebuilt. The Second World War brought further serious damage: German troops occupied the building, and the church came under attack from Soviet aircraft. On 7 May 1945 it was struck several times and badly damaged.

Frequently asked questions

When is the main pilgrimage to Lechovice held? Every year on 2 July, the feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary — the same date on which the first pilgrimage took place in 1695.

How many towers does the church have? Two. This twin-towered layout was designed by Christian Alexander Oedtl in 1717.

Is the church a protected monument? Yes, the building is listed as a cultural monument.

Who paid for the church's construction? The Premonstratensian monastery in Louka near Znojmo funded the building work carried out between 1718 and 1722 by the Viennese builder Christian Damel.

Where did the Madonna statue linked to the local cult come from? The life-size, late Gothic Madonna statue placed by the spring at the foot of the hill in the late 17th century came from the Louka monastery.