Church of Saint John the Baptist

The Church of St. John the Baptist in Velké Losiny is a Renaissance parish church standing in the village of Velké Losiny, in the Šumperk district of the Olomouc region, close to the Křížový vrch hill. It ranks among the largest and most distinctive rural religious monuments in Moravia, and its history is closely tied to the powerful Žerotín family, who once ruled the local estate.

How old is the church history in Velké Losiny?

The first written record of a church in Losiny dates back to 1351, meaning a place of worship stood here long before the building visible today. The fate of that earlier church changed at the end of the 16th century, when the estate's owner, Jan the Younger of Žerotín, ordered it demolished. This happened in 1599, and the recovered timber was reused to build three smaller churches in the nearby villages of Maršíkov, Žárová, and Klepáčov. This piece of history is often the source of confusion between Velké Losiny and the neighboring village of Maršíkov — they are, in fact, separate places, and the church described here stands in Velké Losiny.

When was the current church built?

The new masonry church, built in the late Renaissance style, went up between 1599 and 1603, designed by the builder Antonio Thoma. Interestingly, it was originally constructed for Lutheran worship, since the Žerotín family were Protestant. Only later did the building pass into Catholic hands, and it has served as a Catholic parish church ever since.

What is worth seeing inside?

The interior is defined by a heavy barrel vault with lunettes, richly decorated with stucco ornamentation. Spacious singers' galleries run along both sides of the nave — a feature typical of churches with a Protestant background, where seating capacity for the congregation mattered greatly. The structure and its decoration were later supplemented with Baroque elements, giving the church the layered architectural character it has today.

What is the Chapel of the Holy Cross?

Adjoining the church is the Chapel of the Holy Cross, which serves as the burial vault of the Žerotín family. Members of the family that shaped the fate of Velké Losiny and its surrounding villages for centuries — including the decision to demolish the old church and build the current one — were laid to rest here. The presence of this family crypt underscores the church's close ties to the local nobility's history.

Why is this church historically important?

The Church of St. John the Baptist is considered one of the largest and most distinctive rural sacred monuments in Moravia. The entire church complex has been under heritage protection since 1958, confirming its historical and architectural significance well beyond what one would expect from a typical parish church in a small village.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the church located? In the village of Velké Losiny, in the Šumperk district of the Olomouc region, near the Křížový vrch hill.

Was the church always Catholic? No — built between 1599 and 1603, it originally served Lutheran worship, since the Žerotín family who owned the estate at the time were Protestant. It later passed into Catholic ownership.

What happened to the older church that stood on this site? It was demolished in 1599 on the orders of Jan the Younger of Žerotín, and the recovered timber was used to build three smaller churches in Maršíkov, Žárová, and Klepáčov.

Is there anything else notable at the church besides the building itself? Yes — the Chapel of the Holy Cross, which holds the burial vault of the Žerotín family, along with the interior featuring a barrel vault, stucco decoration, and galleries on both sides of the nave.

Since when has the church been a protected monument? The entire church complex has been under heritage protection since 1958.