Church of the Visitation of Our Lady, Rýmařov

Church of the Visitation of Our Lady is a Baroque church on the northeastern edge of Rýmařov, in the part of town known as V Lipkách, along the road toward Bruntál. It ranks as the town's most valuable architectural monument and is often called a jewel of northern Moravian Baroque, largely thanks to its oval floor plan — a rare choice for a church in this part of the region.

What stood here before the current building?

Before the stone church, a timber-framed wooden chapel occupied the same spot, originally built by Protestants. Ownership passed to Catholics after 1555. The present church was raised between 1710 and 1715 on the foundations of that older wooden chapel, designed by Friedrich Hösler, a builder from Rýmařov itself. Some sources also record a secondary dedication, to the Visitation of the Virgin Mary and St Anne.

What makes the building's architecture unusual?

The church has an oval floor plan and a centralized layout, meaning the whole structure gathers around a single focal point rather than stretching along a long nave, as most parish churches do. A massive conical roof, topped with a polygonal lantern, covers the building. That layout sets it apart from other religious buildings in the region, and it is frequently cited as one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in northern Moravia.

What can visitors see inside?

The interior is decorated with frescoes by Ferdinand Naboth, a painter active in Olomouc, who died around 1714 before finishing the work. His apprentice, Jan Kryštof Handke, from nearby Janovice, completed the decoration in 1715. The murals rank among the church's most valuable furnishings and stand as an example of a master-apprentice collaboration — Handke went on to become a respected Baroque painter in his own right in Moravia.

What events mark the building's history?

In 1883, a fire damaged the church, destroying its shingled roof and bell tower. Despite that loss, the building survived and remains one of the most important heritage sites in Rýmařov today, drawing visitors interested in the region's Baroque religious architecture.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? On the northeastern edge of Rýmařov, in the part of town called V Lipkách, along the road to Bruntál.

When was the current church built? Between 1710 and 1715, on the site of an older wooden Protestant chapel.

Who designed the building? Friedrich Hösler, a builder from Rýmařov.

Who painted the frescoes inside? Ferdinand Naboth began the decoration; after his death, his apprentice Jan Kryštof Handke completed it in 1715.

Did the building suffer any disaster? Yes, a fire in 1883 destroyed the roof and bell tower.