Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Brno, Czechia Verified listing

Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Brno, Czechia

The Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is a Gothic church in Brno. It belongs to the Old Brno Monastery complex and is located on Mendlov Square in the Staré Brno district. Because of its historical value, the entire monastery complex has been protected as a cultural monument for many years. Moreover, in November 2022, the Czech government declared it a national cultural monument, effective from 1 July 2023.

The church’s history begins in the first half of the 14th century. At that time, Queen Eliška Rejčka, widow of Czech kings Wenceslas II and Rudolf of Habsburg, founded a Cistercian monastery in 1323. She also built a new Gothic church with a cruciform layout next to the parish church of the Virgin Mary in Old Brno. After her death in 1335, Queen Eliška was buried under the altar of the Holy Cross, which adds to the basilica’s spiritual importance.

Later, in 1782, the monastery underwent major changes due to the Josephine reforms led by Emperor Joseph II. These reforms abolished the Cistercian convent. Subsequently, the Augustinians took over the monastery. Although the basilica remained mostly Gothic, it did experience some Baroque changes during the 18th century.

Finally, the church’s significance was recognized when Pope John Paul II elevated it to a minor basilica in 1987. Since then, it has become an important religious site for the city of Brno and beyond.

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