kostel svatého Jana Křtitele (Křenov) Church

The church of St. John the Baptist in the village of Křenov in Svitavsk is an exceptional example of the highest Baroque construction. It was created as part of an ambitious architectural complex, along with a rectory and chapel that shows the power and cultural influence of the late baroque nobility. Construction started under the patronage of Prince Josef Jan Adam from Liechtenstein and the new construction was completed in 1729.

All interior decoration was processed only a year after, in 1730, by painter Jan Kryštof Handém, which suggests a carefully prepared and gradually implemented building plan. The Baroque temple was thus created as a whole, where architecture and painting formed a harmonic composition.

The history of the church is often accompanied by an interesting legend. For many years he was assigned to the brilliant architect Jan Blažej Santinimu-Aichel, who says that the church was created by an interesting coincidence - he was supposed to design the temple for the Austrian Salzburg, but in exchange for building plans, the sacral building instead of Austria was built in the Czech Moravian Křenov. But this dramatic history remains a legend rather than a confirmed fact. More credible is the assumption that the builder merely inspired Santini's architectural ideas.

But modern historical research has brought about a shift in understanding of the true author. The Brno art historian Jaroslav Sedlář identified the true creator of the church on the basis of a careful comparison of his facade with an archived piece. The author is Antonio Maria Nicola Beduzzi (1675-1735), a high-ranking court architect of Italian origin who has long served the Liechtenstein family. The farmer came to his conclusion by comparing it with the Moravian-Třebov Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, where Beduzzi's authorship is archived in documents.

The rediscovery of a real architect has enriched our understanding of baroque creation in Moravia. Beduzzi's opus - which is also the Køenovský church - documents the high degree of artistic and building taste achieved by Central Europe in the 18th century under the influence of Italian masters. The church of St. John the Baptist remains not only an important religious centre of the village, but also a valuable proof of the complex architectural tradition of the high baroque, which combined local ambitions with the transfer of fame and experience from Italy. .