The Red Church

Neo-Gothic former Protestant church now housing the research library

A striking neo-Gothic red-brick church on the western edge of the old town, the Červený kostel — Red Church — was built in 1901–02 for the local Protestant community. The colour comes from unrendered brick, almost unique among the city's mostly white and stucco façades.

For decades it was off-limits, used as a depot of the Research Library of Olomouc. After a major restoration finished in 2024 it has reopened to the public as a cultural space, with concerts, exhibitions, and a small café in the converted nave. The interior is wonderfully airy and still feels half-secret, even after the reopening.

things to do sight
A story
After the communist takeover in 1948, the Protestant congregation was forced out and the church was given to the local state library, which used the elegant brick nave as a stack space for books. After a long restoration the building reopened in 2024 as a cultural venue, with the books now sharing space with concerts and exhibitions.

Other places in Things to Do