Holy Trinity Church

Holy Trinity Church in Šternberk is a small Classicist building standing at the intersection of Olomoucká and Svatoplukova streets, south of the town centre. Modest as it looks from the outside, it ranks alongside Šternberk Castle as the oldest preserved architectural monument in the town, with origins that could hypothetically reach back to shortly after 1250.

What is the history behind this church?

The building originally carried the dedication to the Purification of the Virgin Mary and served as a hospital church. The first written record dates to February 1376, when the Bishop of Olomouc, Jan ze Středy, granted permission to move the hospital into the inner town. Only months later, on 15 September 1376, Petr ze Šternberka issued a deed releasing the Augustinian monastery from administering the hospital — a step directly tied to the running of the church and the care of the sick attached to it.

During the Hussite Wars in the 15th century, the church was most likely damaged, a fate shared by many religious buildings across Moravia in that turbulent era. Despite later, more modest alterations, its medieval core has survived to the present day.

How was the church built?

The core of the structure is made of quarried rubble stone, while the younger sections and additions are built of brick — a difference in wall texture still visible on close inspection of the facade. This mixed construction reflects the centuries of repairs and rebuilding the church underwent from the medieval period into the modern era.

What can visitors see inside?

The centrepiece of the interior is an altarpiece depicting the Holy Trinity, painted by Jan Kryštof Handke in 1735. The altar housing the painting, however, dates from a later period — 1834 — pointing to a Classicist-era refurbishment of the church's furnishings. The tower holds a single bell, cast in 1793.

Why is it worth a visit?

Holy Trinity Church appeals to visitors curious about Šternberk's oldest, medieval layer of history, predating the town as it exists today. It also makes a natural stop on a walk that pairs a visit to Šternberk Castle with the town's quieter, less obvious monuments, sitting close to the centre yet off the main tourist route.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the church? Its origins may hypothetically date back to shortly after 1250, though the first written mention of the hospital attached to it comes from 1376.

What was the church originally dedicated to? It was originally dedicated to the Purification of the Virgin Mary, only later taking on its present Holy Trinity dedication.

What is inside the main altar? A painting of the Holy Trinity by Jan Kryštof Handke from 1735, set within an altar dating from 1834.

What materials was the church built from? The older core is quarried rubble stone, while the younger sections and additions are brick.

How do you get to the church? It stands at the intersection of Olomoucká and Svatoplukova streets, south of Šternberk's centre, within easy walking distance of the castle and main square.