Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary in Moldava

The Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary stands on the western edge of Moldava (Moldava v Krušných horách), a small village in the Czech Ore Mountains (Krušné hory) close to the German border. It is a Roman Catholic parish church and has been protected as a cultural monument since 1964.

What is the history of the church?

The church is first documented in 1346, mentioned in the accounts of the Meissen chapter as a place of worship for the glassmakers who had settled this part of the Ore Mountains since the Middle Ages. The building was rebuilt in 1687, and in 1851 it was enlarged to reach its present-day form.

As a border community, Moldava was for centuries predominantly German-speaking, and Protestantism took root there more deeply than Catholicism. After the Thirty Years' War, Cistercian monks from the Osek monastery arrived in the mountains with the task of bringing the local population back to the Catholic faith. At the time, the Moldava church itself stood empty, since residents attended a neighbouring church across the border instead.

What does the church look like architecturally?

The church is a single-nave, rectangular building. On its eastern side it closes with a pentagonal presbytery, adjoined by a square sacristy. Its most distinctive feature is the tower, capped with a pyramidal, shingle-covered roof — visible from a distance above the rooftops of Moldava and giving the church its recognisable, steep-pitched silhouette even before entering the village.

Are services still held there today?

Yes. Regular Sunday Mass continues to be celebrated in the church, even though Moldava itself is far smaller today than it was centuries ago, following the post-war resettlement of the border region. Once a year, the church also hosts a special gathering: former residents of Moldava and the now largely depopulated neighbouring settlements of Pastviny and Oldřišč come together for a commemorative Mass.

Where exactly is the church located?

The church stands on the western edge of Moldava, in the eastern part of the Ore Mountains (Krušné hory), close to the Czech-German border. Its geographic coordinates are 50.719532, 13.647764. The region has long attracted hikers along trails that cross this border landscape, and thanks to its tower, visible from far away, the church acts as a natural landmark along walking routes through the surrounding countryside.

Frequently asked questions

When was the church in Moldava built? The church is first mentioned in written records in 1346, though its present form results from a rebuilding in 1687 and an enlargement in 1851.

Is the church a protected monument? Yes, it has been protected as a cultural monument since 1964.

Who did the church originally serve? According to the earliest records, the church served glassmakers working in the glassworks scattered around this part of the Ore Mountains.

Are Masses still celebrated at the church? Yes, regular Sunday Masses are held there, and once a year an additional commemorative Mass brings together former residents of Moldava, Pastviny and Oldřišč.

What does the church building look like? It is a single-nave, rectangular structure with a pentagonal presbytery, a square sacristy, and a characteristic tower topped with a pyramidal, shingle-covered roof.