St. Thomas' Church, Brno

The Church of Saint Thomas and the Annunciation, located in Brno, is a significant historical and architectural landmark with roots tracing back to the 14th century. The church was originally established by John Henry of Luxembourg, Margrave of Moravia, with the active support of his brother, Charles IV, the Holy Roman Emperor. The church, which began as part of an Augustinian monastery, was consecrated on March 13, 1356, by the Olomouc Bishop Jan Očko of Vlašim in the presence of King Charles IV.

The Church of Saint Thomas served as a burial site for John Henry and his son, Jobst of Moravia, who was the titular King of the Germans. John Henry's second consort, Margaret of Opava, is also reportedly buried here. The church is notable for housing the Pietà of Saint Thomas, a famous polychromed stone statue in the high Gothic style located in the south nave.

The church's appearance today is largely shaped by the extensive baroque renovations that took place in the latter half of the 17th century. These renovations were necessitated by the severe damage the church suffered during the Swedish siege of Brno in the Thirty Years' War. Architect Jan Křtitel Erna played a key role in the restoration, designing three Early Baroque naves and adding chapels between the pillars of the side naves on an extended Gothic floor plan. The renovations, which began in 1661, took ten years to complete.

Further modifications in the Baroque style were made between 1749 and 1752, with Mořic Grimm renovating the inner presbytery and Jan van der Furth adding statues to Erna’s original church portal. The tomb in front of the main altar, created by Austrian painter Franz Anton Maulbertsch, holds the remains of Margrave Jobst of Moravia.

Adjacent to the church, the original Augustinian monastery was also renovated in the Baroque style and is now known as Místodržitelský palác (the Governor’s Palace), which currently houses the Moravian Gallery in Brno. The Church of Saint Thomas is also notable for being the place where renowned architect Adolf Loos was baptized on January 1, 1871.