Kostel svatého Martina (Vidhostice) Church
St. Martin's Church in Vidhosts in Lounsk was founded in 1791 in the late Baroque style. It was built on the site of a Gothic church, which is documented already before 1384. There is a former cemetery surrounding the building. The temple gained cultural heritage status in 1964.
In the history of the church there are fates typical of many rural sacral buildings. In the twentieth century the church was gradually abandoned and decayed. A major accident occurred in 2005 - part of the church tower collapsed. The subsequent repair was difficult, the tower was mature and the whole maintenance process was initiated by the town of Vroutek in cooperation with the local Association of Friends of St. Martin's Church. In 2010, the repaired part of the tower was blessed by the then priest from Kryr Joseph Simon. Since then, there have been successive repairs to the church.
At present, the parish is attended by Podborány and services are not carried out in the church. The technical state of the building remains serious, yet hope returns thanks to continued repairs.
Architecturally, it is a single-boat structure oriented approximately towards the exit. The presbytery is finished right-hand with bevelled corners, there is sacristy and oratory on its sides. The facades are broken down by pilasters. The presbytery is glassed with a vaulted vault with a section, while the ship has a flat ceiling. The windows are oblong with segment conclusions.
The interior keeps the original equipment. There are three altars - the Baroque altar and two side altars dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, which are also baroque designs with portal elements. The paintings of these altars are not in the church today. Three stone tombstones are visible in the tiles. On the wooden circle there were organ which are currently undergoing reconstruction in a professional organ workshop.
St. Martin's Church is a testament to the persistence of the rural Faith community and the resilience of local residents. Its gradual renewal is an example of how the combination of people's and public administration's efforts has managed to restore the dignity of this baroque building.
Then and now
Drag the slider to compare how the landmark may have looked when it was built with the view today.
The historical appearance on the left is an AI-generated visualisation and serves as inspiration only.
Historical milestones
- 1384
- Proof of the existence of the original Gothic church.
- 1791
- The status of the present Baroque building.
- 1964
- Writing the church into a list of cultural monuments.
- 2005
- The destruction of part of the church tower.
- 2010
- The blessing of the inherited part of the tower.
Architectural development
The present Baroque building from the end of the 18th century stands on the basis of a Gothic church. The characteristic is a preserved presbytery from the 14th century. The interior consists of a flat-ceiling boat and a presbytery with a valence vault.
Historical events
The original Gothic church was documented in 1384. In 1964, the building was declared a cultural monument. In 2005, part of the church tower collapsed.
Points of interest
- The church was established in 1791 in the late Baroque style on the site of the Gothic church, documented before 1384. - In 2005 there was a major accident in which part of the church tower collapsed. - There are three Baroque altars in the interior, but the paintings are not in the church today. There are three stone tombstones in the tiles. - Organs made of wooden circle are currently undergoing reconstruction in a professional organist workshop.
Guide
This guide is narrated by a synthetic voice generated by artificial intelligence.
Show guide text
This text was created by artificial intelligence and has not been editorially reviewed. It may contain inaccuracies.
The Church of Saint Martin in Vidhosticích na Lounsku was built in 1791 on the site of an older church. Since 1964, it has been protected as a cultural monument. Today it is in poor technical condition and services are not held in it. The local parish is administered from Podbořany.
The original church was Gothic and is documented as existing before 1384. In its place, a new building was then constructed in the late Baroque style. Around the church extends a former cemetery. During the twentieth century, the church deteriorated until part of the tower collapsed in 2005. The tower was subsequently rebuilt. The repairs were organized by the town of Vroutek together with the local Association of Friends of the Church of Saint Martin. In 2010, the rebuilt part of the tower was blessed by the then parish priest from Kryr, Josef Šimon. Gradual repairs continue to this day.
The church has a single nave and is oriented approximately to the east. The presbytery, that is the space around the main altar, is terminated at right angles with beveled corners. On its sides stand the sacristy and the oratory. The façades are articulated by pilasters and the rectangular windows have segmental, that is slightly arched, tops. The presbytery is vaulted with a barrel vault with webs, the nave has a flat ceiling.
In the interior, three altars are documented. The main altar is Baroque and was supplemented with a more recent painting. Two side altars are dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. They too are Baroque, have the form of a portal, and also carried more recent paintings. The paintings from all these altars, however, are not in the church today. In the floor, three worn stone tombstones have been preserved. On the wooden gallery, there were once an organ, which is now undergoing reconstruction in an organ builder's workshop.
Tips for visitors
For the best experience we recommend a visit in the morning or afternoon, when the sun best highlights the Baroque details of the building. For photography there are ideal places near the fenced wall, where the church can be captured on its whole scale with pleasant, soft light.
Since the condition of the property is described as bad, we recommend that you take comfortable shoes with you and take extra care during the tour. It is advisable to carry drinking water in case of longer stay in the area.
Families with children can explore the former cemetery surrounding the church and the historic wall within a short walk, offering a quiet environment for observing historical elements in nature.
Frequently asked questions
Can the monument be visited?
Religious buildings are usually open mainly during services; at other times a visit is normally arranged with the parish or the operator. We have not verified specific times. According to the heritage register the structure is in poor condition – do not enter it and take care nearby.
Where is the monument?
Location: Vidhostice, Ústecký kraj. The map on this page shows the exact spot.
Why is the monument protected?
It is listed in the Central List of Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic as a cultural monument (register no. 42712/5-1471).
For kids
About 235 years ago something very interesting happened in the small village Vidhostice. When everyone around it was cold and snow covered the fields, people started building a new church. It was an extraordinary church - the best of all who could introduce himself! The church of St. Martin was like a new royal residence for the villagers and formed their common meeting place. And so the big construction began at a time when people talked about free thinking and new ideas.
Businesses nearby
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Events nearby
Zdroj akcí: otevřená data měst a obcí ČR (Národní katalog otevřených dat) a kalendář akcí Národního památkového ústavu.
Nearby
The former cemetery surrounding the church and the wall.
Accommodation nearby
Themed route
1. Church of St. Martin (sacral monument) - The main objective of the tour, which represents the centre of the entire complex. 2. Garden wall (architectural element) - It surrounds the area around the church and creates a historical framework of the place. 3. The former cemetery (historical place) - Space surrounding the church, which allows a peaceful walk in its immediate surroundings.
Seasonal recommendations
In spring nature awakens around the church and surrounding vegetation begins to green, creating a fresh contrast to the historical state of the building. The lighting is very pleasant to observe the details of architecture thanks to the softer sun. We recommend taking layered clothes because the morning cold can quickly rotate with heat, and the best is to arrive in the morning when the air is the purest and the lowest attendance.
In the summer months, the surrounding area of the church is filled with dense greenery and the sun rays hit the object in the most intense colors. The atmosphere is quiet, but due to the high temperatures can be a difficult walk around the monument. It is advisable to take a headgear, enough water and visit the place in the early morning to avoid the greatest heat and possible summer groups.
Autumn brings a melancholy atmosphere to the landscape of Vidhost, where morning fog often lazily rolls around old walls. The golden colours of decaying leaves add nobility to the place, despite its current neglected state. It is necessary to have waterproof clothes and firmer shoes ready for the visit, as the path to the monument can be slippery after the rain. The ideal time to visit is in the afternoon when the sun creates long and interesting shadows.
The winter season is characterized by raw and quiet, when the trees around the church are bare and the landscape is very lonely. The light is often grey or bright white at this time, which underlines the crueliness of the historical building. Due to low temperatures and shorter times of the day, it is necessary to choose a very warm and windy jacket and plan a visit around noon to use the greatest possible light of the day.
Visualizations and artistic views
The visualisations are generated by artificial intelligence and serve as inspiration.
Photos from the area
Real photos taken near the monument
Zdroj a licence jsou uvedeny u každého snímku.
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Sources and literature
Photos: Petr Kinšt / CC BY-SA 3.0 — Wikimedia Commons. The author and licence also appear when you hover over the image.
Faktickým podkladem tohoto textu byl článek na Wikipedii, jehož autory jsou přispěvatelé Wikipedie. Článek je dostupný pod licencí CC BY-SA 4.0.
Location on the map
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