BRNO AND ITS Churches CHURCHES BRNO TO GUIDES We offer a free guided tour in the marked churches (in Czech, English, and German) during the period from 14 June to 17 September. In the legend for each church, the days when the guide is present are marked in blue and the days when services are held are marked in brown. Dear visitors to Brno, Our city has many important buildings that are well worth seeing. These also include sacred buildings. Religious tourism in general is an area that has much to offer to tourists. In the narrow radius of the Brno, city centre, you can find many churches, ranging from the Gothic to the functionalist and all with a unique atmosphere. For several years now, we have been bringing you the opportunity during the summer months to see the best and listen to information about them, presented by an experienced guide. This year, you can come see the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Church of St. John with Loreto, Church of St. James and Church of St. Michael. However, we would like to give you basic information about additional religious buildings, therefore we have included another 10 churches in this brochure that you can visit during opening hours for the public or attend a service. Jana Janulíková, TIC Director Basilica 1 of the Assumption Mendel Square of Our Lady Guided tours and services: This is rightly called a gem of Gothic architecture in Moravia. In 1323 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 the royal widow Eliška Rejčka founded Mon a Cistercian convent called Aula Tue Sanctae Mariae next to the older Wed parish Church of Our Lady in Old Thu Fri Brno. After her death in 1335 Eliška Sat Rejčka found her final resting place Sun in the basilica. The spot is marked by the letter “E”, with a small crown in the paving of the church. In the 18th century, the interior of the church was rebuilt in the Baroque style. That period also witnessed the finishing of the Baroque buildings of the abbey. In 1783 the Emperor Joseph II ordered the Augustinians to move to Old Brno from their original monastery of St. Thomas, situated in what is now Moravské náměstí. The Augustinians also had the glorious “silver altar” built when the icon of the Black Madonna was crowned in 1736. At the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady a pilgrimage is held every year in the basilica to worship her as the Protector of the City of Brno. GUIDED www.opatbrno.cz Cathedral 2 of St. Peter and Paul Petrov The latest scientific research Guided tours and services: puts the origins of the church 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 on Petrov back to the 1170s. Mon The church was rebuilt several times Tue in the Gothic period. Around 1500, Wed the consecration of St. Paul was added Thu to the consecration of St. Peter. After Fri being razed during the Thirty Years Sat War, the church was reconstructed Sun during two phases of the Baroque, Tue 7:00 p.m. School year in 1651–52 and 1743–46. Thu 5:30 p.m. Pilgrimage Mass A collegiate chapter was established Fri 5:30 p.m., Sun 9:00 a.m. at the church in 1296. When Pope Families Pius VI confirmed the establishment of the Brno diocese in 1777, Sun 7:30 a.m. Latin the church of St Peter and Paul was promoted to cathedral. Besides the cathedral interior, visitors may see the Romanesque-Gothic crypt, which retains the foundations of the original church. In the treasury room there is an exhibition of vestments, monstrances and other liturgical articles. Visitors also like to climb the cathedral steeples to get a view of the city. The diocese museum houses an interesting exhibition of Vita Christi (Life of Christ). GUIDED www.katedrala-petrov.cz Church 3 of St. James Jakub Square The oldest written mention of the Guided tours and services: Church of St. James in Brno dates back 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 to 1228. The Romanesque church from Mon th the early 13 century was later replaced Tue by a Gothic church. Construction of Wed the three nave building, to which the Thu famous builder A. Pilgram contributed, Fri was interrupted by fire in April 1515. Sat The restoration and extension of the Sun church finished in 1592 with the completion of the tower. In the mid-18th century, the interior was rebuilt in the Baroque style; however, the Gothic appearance was restored in the years 1871–79. The work was carried out according to the designs of the Viennese architect H. Ferstel. At that time, the current appearance of the main altar was created. Noteworthy is the tomb of Marshal Louis Raduit de Souches, a successful commander in the defence of Brno during the siege by the Swedes in 1645, who was buried here. Another well-known tomb belongs to Regina Brem-Seisenegger von Tarnovice. It bears the coat of arms of the Čert family from Brno, showing the Pythagorean theorem designed by A. Dürer. Until the Josephine reforms in 1784, there was a cemetery around the church. For more than 500 years, it was the final resting place of wealthy burghers, famous artists and ordinary people. GUIDED www.svatyjakubbrno.wz.cz The Minorite Church 4 of St. John and Loreto Minoritská Street The church of St. John has changed Guided tours and services: its form many times throughout 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 the centuries (the most fundamental Mon reconstruction being undertaken by Tue the Baroque master Moritz Grimm), Wed but has always been a dominant Thu structure in the city. The church has Fri one nave with a prolonged chancel, Sat which has been typical of mendicant Sun orders, including the Minorites, since Sun 6:00 a.m. the Middle Ages. Polish (2nd Sunday of the month) The internal decoration is the work of Johan Georg Schauberger and Johan Georg Etgens. The main altar is decorated by Josef Stern’s painting Adoration of the Virgin Mary. The Loreto Chapel is a building imitating the Holy House in Loreto, Italy. According to Christian legend, this was the place of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary and home to the Holy Family. There is a replica of the Black Madonna of Loreto on the altar. The Loreto chapel includes the Holy Stairs, a copy of the Jerusalem steps which Jesus Christ stood on when being led to Pilate. The statues in the Loreto Chapel were made by J. J. Schauberger and the painting in the cupola celebrating the Virgin Mary is the work of F. G. I. Eckstein. GUIDED www.brno.minorite.cz Church 5 of St. Michael Dominican Square The history of the Church of Guided tours and services: St. Michael has been closely 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 connected to the Dominican Mon monastery, which hosted, among other Tue activities, meetings of the Moravian Wed provincial parliament. The church was Thu witness to many important events Fri that determined the course of history Sat in the country. Sun Today, visitors can see the church in its 17th century Baroque form. During this reconstruction the orientation of the church was changed, so unlike other churches the alter is faced west and the gallery is faced east. This altar and the baroque pulpit were designed and constructed by the sculptor J. Winterhalder sr. Another unique feature of the church is the entrance terrace lined with a row of Baroque statues of saints. The left oratory, accessed through the side entrance from Dominikánská Street, is currently an exhibition space of Brno’s Angelicum, with an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by contemporary artists. GUIDED www.svatymichalbrno.cz Capuchin Chapel 6 of the Finding of Capuchin Square the Holy Cross Services and guided tours of the church and tomb The Church of the Finding of the Holy for groups by appointment. Cross, together with the tomb which is hidden in the spaces beneath, are early Church: Baroque structures built in a spirit of 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 simplicity – typical for the architectural Mon style of the Capuchin Order. However, Tue the church and its attending monastery Wed underwent extensive reconstruction in Thu the Baroque style in the 18th century. Fri Moritz Grimm and son conducted the Sat Sun work and are responsible for what we can see today. After very extensive renovations in 2004 the church was Tomb: APRIL–OCTOBER opened to the public. Now the space also host part of the Ars Moriendi Exhibition 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 – paintings by the mid-17th century Mon Prague artist showing the transience Tue Wed of existence. Thu Inside you can see a miraculous painting Fri of the Virgin Mary which, according Sat to a legend, helped its former owner. Sun Entering the narrow street beside the church, you find the Capuchin crypt. NOVEMBER–MARCH Here are hidden the bodies of friars and 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 patrons of the order, now mummified Mon after hundreds of years.