The Jindřichův Hradec Gothic church with mysterious paintings will come to life with night tours

Jindřichův Hradec – Interested visitors can take night tours of the Gothic Church of St. John the Baptist in Jindřichův Hradec every Friday during the summer holidays. Experts from the Museum of Jindřichův Hradec will introduce them to the history of the monument as well as the unusual wall paintings with still unexplained motifs during a guided tour. Visitors will also get a glimpse into areas that are normally not accessible, said the museum spokeswoman Marcela Kozlová today.

The tours start every Friday in July and August at 20:00. They will offer a look at extraordinary wall paintings depicting deformed human bodies, a woman with breasts on her back, apocalyptic scenes, and mythical beings and animals. "Visitors will also see the cloister with Gothic frescoes, the mysterious corners of the church, and normally inaccessible attic areas. The conclusion of each tour will be dedicated to climbing the baroque tower, from where a unique view of the night panorama of Jindřichův Hradec opens," Kozlová stated.

According to experts, the Church of St. John the Baptist is one of the most valuable architectural monuments in South Bohemia. "During the night tours, visitors will see not only valuable Gothic paintings and architectural details, but also spaces that are usually not accessible," said historian Vladislav Burian.

The capacity for the tours is limited, so the organizers recommend purchasing tickets in advance online or at the museum box offices on Štítného Street and Balbín Square. The ticket price is 150 crowns. Children from six years old can participate accompanied by adults.

The church with the area of the Minorite monastery is one of the most significant monuments of Gothic architecture in South Bohemia. The church was built gradually from the beginning of the 13th century, and in the following century, the Chapel of St. Nicholas was constructed. The church was probably founded by the Order of German Knights. Besides them, there was also the mendicant order of Minorites, who completed the church's construction and added the monastery. The church is especially famous for its preserved wall paintings from the 14th century.