kostel sv. Jana Křtitele

The Church of Saint John the Baptist stands on the main square of Telnice, Masarykovo náměstí, in the Brno-venkov district of the South Moravian Region. It is a Roman Catholic parish church, listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, and the most recognizable landmark of the village.

How old is the church?

The site has been in religious use for far longer than the current building suggests. An earlier Romanesque-Gothic church stood here, likely built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, and its tower survives to this day as part of the present structure. The Baroque church body that visitors see now was built between 1726 and 1734. Its nave follows a Latin-cross layout, closed off by a semicircular presbytery — a floor plan typical of Baroque village churches across the region.

What can visitors see inside?

Inside, three altars date from the first half of the 18th century. The main altar is dedicated to the church's patron, Saint John the Baptist, while the two side altars are dedicated to the Holy Cross and to Saint Anthony of Padua. This arrangement reflects the standard Baroque hierarchy of church interiors, with the main altar anchoring the central axis and the side altars completing the devotional program.

What mark did the Battle of Austerlitz leave on the church?

Telnice sits right next to the fields where the Battle of Austerlitz, one of the defining clashes of the Napoleonic Wars, was fought on 2 December 1805. Artillery fire that day did not spare the church: the blasts shattered every window and damaged the vault. After the necessary repairs, a cannonball was set into the plaster of the tower as a lasting memorial to the battle — it can still be seen there today.

Where exactly is the church located?

The church occupies the central spot in the village, on Masarykovo náměstí, making it the natural point of reference for anyone exploring Telnice. Its approximate coordinates are 49.1021 N, 16.7182 E. Telnice lies in the Brno-venkov district of the South Moravian Region, just east of Brno, in an area whose identity is closely tied to the memory of the Battle of Austerlitz.

Frequently asked questions

Is the church a protected monument? Yes. The Church of Saint John the Baptist in Telnice is registered as a kulturní památka, the official form of heritage protection in the Czech Republic.

Did anything survive from the original medieval building? Yes — the tower dates back to the earlier Romanesque-Gothic phase from the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries, while the rest of the church body is Baroque, built in the 18th century.

What traces of the Battle of Austerlitz can be found on the church? A cannonball remains embedded in the plaster of the tower, a direct result of the fighting on 2 December 1805 — a physical reminder of one of the most famous Napoleonic battles, fought right next to the village.

Who is the main altar dedicated to? The main altar honors the church's patron, Saint John the Baptist, while the two side altars are dedicated to the Holy Cross and to Saint Anthony of Padua.