Church of Saint Mary Magdalene (Dětmarovice)

The Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Dětmarovice is a brick-and-stone parish church standing in the village of Dětmarovice, in the Karviná District of the Moravian-Silesian Region in the Czech Republic, close to the Polish border. The building is listed as a Czech cultural monument and still functions as an active parish church.

What is the history behind this church?

The village of Dětmarovice was first mentioned in written records in 1305. For centuries, an oriented wooden church stood on the site, built in 1447. Over time the wooden structure deteriorated and was dismantled in 1868. A new masonry church was built in its place according to plans approved in 1865, with construction carried out between 1868 and 1870.

Who designed the current building?

The design and construction supervision were handled by František G. Böhm, a builder from Ostrava, who submitted the plans in 1865 together with a budget of 28,728.02 Austrian guldens. The result was a single-nave church in the neo-Renaissance style, a design common among churches built in Cieszyn Silesia during the second half of the 19th century.

What can visitors see inside?

The church houses an organ dating from 1871, built by organ maker Karl Neusser of Nový Jičín — an instrument created almost at the same time as the building itself and part of it since the church's earliest years. In 1995, three new bronze bells were installed in the church tower, replacing the older bell fittings.

Where exactly is the church located?

The church stands in the village of Dětmarovice, in the Karviná District of the Moravian-Silesian Region, near the border with Poland. Its geographic coordinates are 49.8943439, 18.461475. It is a modest but historically well-documented building, set within the landscape of a village on the Polish-Czech borderland, in the area known as Zaolzie (Trans-Olza).

Can the church be visited?

The church continues to serve as an active place of worship for the local Roman Catholic parish. As a religious building, it is primarily accessible in the context of the community's religious life, while its architecture and surroundings form a notable part of the village, worth a look when exploring the Karviná area and the Silesian borderland.

Frequently asked questions

What is the church called in Czech? Kostel svaté Máří Magdalény, located in the village of Dětmarovice.

When was the current church building constructed? The present masonry church was built between 1868 and 1870, replacing an earlier wooden church from 1447.

Who designed the church? The plans were prepared by František G. Böhm, a builder from Ostrava, submitted in 1865.

Is the church a protected monument? Yes, it is listed as a cultural monument (kulturní památka) of the Czech Republic.

What is the oldest surviving furnishing inside the church? The organ from 1871, made by Karl Neusser of Nový Jičín, dating from close to the time the current church was completed.