Church of the Visitation of Our Lady (Ludvíkov)

Church of the Visitation of Our Lady in Ludvíkov is a small filial church in the village of Ludvíkov, Bruntál District, in the Moravian-Silesian Region at the foot of the Jeseníky Mountains. Listed as a Czech cultural monument, the building is best known for its noticeably leaning tower, which has become something of a local landmark.

When was the church built?

The current brick church was built in 1792–1793 on the site of an earlier wooden chapel dating from 1775. For most of its history it has served as a filial church attached to the parish in nearby Vrbno pod Pradědem. Emergency repairs were carried out in 1992–1994 to stabilize the structure. The church was declared a cultural monument in 2008, which paved the way for a thorough renovation in 2009–2010 that restored the walls and ceilings and renewed the original slate floor.

Who owns and maintains the church?

The building belongs to the municipality of Ludvíkov, which has overseen both the 1990s rescue works and the later renovation. Pastoral care falls under the Roman Catholic parish of Vrbno pod Pradědem, whose priests travel to Ludvíkov to hold services.

What does the church look like?

It is a modest single-nave brick building oriented unconventionally, with its sanctuary facing west rather than the more usual east. Inside, a flat ceiling covers the nave, which is separated from the sanctuary by a triumphal arch. The entrance is set into the south wall. At the front stands a slender, prism-shaped bell tower — the very feature, visibly tilted off vertical, that draws visitors and has earned Ludvíkov a reputation as the village with the "leaning church."

When can you attend a service?

Mass is held once a month, on the first Saturday — a schedule typical of small filial churches served by a priest commuting from a neighboring parish.

Frequently asked questions

Is the church in Ludvíkov really leaning? Yes. Its tower is visibly tilted off vertical, a feature that has become one of the main reasons visitors stop in the village.

Can visitors go inside the church? As a filial church with monthly Mass (first Saturday), access outside services depends on arrangements with the parish office in Vrbno pod Pradědem.

Which parish does the church belong to? It belongs to the Roman Catholic parish of Vrbno pod Pradědem, which provides pastoral care and clergy for services.