Otaslavice – kostel

The church in Otaslavice (Church of St. Michael the Archangel) stands on the edge of the village of Otaslavice in the Olomouc Region of Moravia, Czech Republic. It is an unusual entry on the regional map: officially it is registered as a nature monument, even though it is first and foremost a historic place of worship. The seeming contradiction has a simple explanation — the building is protected not only as an architectural monument but also as the habitat of a rare bat colony.

What is the history of the church?

The current structure dates from 1846–1890 and is built in a unified neo-Gothic style. Beneath this 19th-century exterior, however, the building conceals older structural elements dating back to the 14th–17th centuries. This means a considerably older church once stood on this site, and successive rebuilding phases — including the major 19th-century reconstruction — did not fully erase the earlier construction stages. For visitors, this means that despite its uniform neo-Gothic appearance from the outside, the building's actual history stretches back much further than its current form suggests.

Why is the church also a nature monument?

The attic of the church hosts a summer colony of the greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis), one of the larger bat species found in Central Europe. Estimates put the colony at 208 to 389 individuals, making it a medium-sized colony for this species. Because of this population, the site has been designated a protected nature monument and included in the European Natura 2000 network of sites of European importance. The long-term conservation goal is to preserve the existence of this summer breeding colony — the bats use the roof space as a safe, warm shelter while raising their young.

What should visitors know before coming?

The church in Otaslavice combines two things rarely found together: sacred architecture and active nature conservation within the same building. From the outside, it looks like a typical neo-Gothic village church common to the region, but knowing that one of the area's more significant bat colonies lives in its roof changes how you look at the structure. It is worth keeping in mind that protecting the colony means restrictions on accessing the attic and roof space — that part of the building is reserved for the animals, not for visitors.

Frequently asked questions

Which saint is the church in Otaslavice dedicated to? The church is dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel.

When was the current building constructed? The current neo-Gothic form of the church was built between 1846 and 1890, though it preserves elements from earlier construction phases dating to the 14th–17th centuries.

Why is the church protected as a nature site? Because of a greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis) colony nesting in the attic, estimated at 208 to 389 individuals in summer. The site is a nature monument and part of the Natura 2000 network.

Where exactly is the church located? On the edge of the village of Otaslavice, in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic.