Church of St. Wenceslaus / Kostel Sv. Václava - Opava (North Moravia)
N 49° 56.416 E 017° 54.186
33U E 708299 N 5536030
Historically valuable Church of St. Wenceslaus (Kostel Sv. Václava), part of former Dominican convent in Opava, serves nowadays as cultural centre and gallery.
Waymark Code: WMH996
Location: Moravskoslezský kraj, Czechia
Date Posted: 06/10/2013
Views: 37
Historically valuable Church of St. Wenceslaus (Kostel Sv. Václava), part of former Dominican convent in Opava, serves nowadays as cultural centre and gallery.
The history of the Church of St. Wenceslaus is closely connected with founding of the Opava Dominican convent by Duke Mikuláš II. Opavský (Nicolas II. of Opava) in September 1291. The church, three-aisle basilical structure with single-nave closed choir, was consecrated by the Olomouc bishop Jan VI. in 1336. The church bears traces of all architectonic periods from Gothic, over Renaissance to Baroque and Empire. In years 1723-1733 was rebuilt in the Baroque style and equipped by 18 side altars and two side chapels. One of them, the St. Dominic Chapel is exceptionally carefully decorated by valuable frescoes. The church was deconsecrated during the reign of Emperor Joseph II. and in 1783 it started to be used as a military storehouse. Today the church and the monastery are partially employed as a cultural centre, among others as a gallery. The monastery building houses an elementary art school – fine arts, the House of Arts and a wine bar.