Red Church

The Red Church in Olomouc (Czech: Červený kostel) is an early 20th-century neo-Gothic brick building in the historic centre of Olomouc, Czech Republic, that today operates as a cultural and educational venue run by the city's Research Library. Though built as a place of worship, the church spent much of its history serving other purposes, and only reopened to visitors in 2023 after decades of closure.

Why is it called the Red Church?

The building takes its popular name from its construction material: it was built of red brick in the North German Brick Gothic style (Backsteingotik), a tradition widely used for Evangelical churches erected in Central Europe around 1900. Its slender tower rises to roughly 55 metres, making it one of the most visible landmarks on the Olomouc skyline.

When was the church built, and who designed it?

The foundation stone was laid on 16 May 1901, and construction was finished the following year, in 1902. The original design was drawn up by builder Franz Böhm in 1898, but the final neo-Gothic appearance of the church is credited to architect Max Löw of Braunschweig, who reworked the plans into the brick-Gothic form seen today.

Who was the church originally built for?

The building was commissioned by and for the German Evangelical community of Olomouc, which explains its formal historical name, the German Evangelical Church. It served this congregation continuously until the end of the Second World War.

What happened to the building after 1945?

In May 1945, the church passed to Czech Evangelicals, who began holding regular services there in July of that year. A far longer chapter began in 1961, when the building was converted into a book depository for the Olomouc Research Library. For almost sixty years, until 2019, the interior was closed to the public and used purely for storage.

What is the Red Church used for today?

Following a thorough renovation, the church reopened to the public on 17 May 2023. It now functions as a cultural and educational centre operated by the Olomouc Research Library, hosting lectures, concerts, exhibitions, guided tours and children's programmes. The reopening gave the building an entirely new civic role, turning a former storage space back into a shared public venue.

Is the Red Church worth visiting in Olomouc?

For visitors interested in turn-of-the-century sacral architecture or the history of the German-speaking minority in Moravia, the Red Church is a notable stop. Its tall brick tower stands out clearly among the historic centre's mostly Baroque skyline, and the recently restored interior now welcomes the public again after decades behind closed doors.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the church called "Red"? Because it was built of red brick in the North German Brick Gothic style.

When was the Red Church built? The foundation stone was laid on 16 May 1901 and construction was completed in 1902.

Who designed the church? Franz Böhm drew up the original 1898 design, and architect Max Löw of Braunschweig gave it its final neo-Gothic form.

Can visitors go inside today? Yes. After renovation, the church reopened to the public on 17 May 2023 as a cultural and educational centre run by the Olomouc Research Library.

How tall is the church tower? The tower is approximately 55 metres tall.