Assumption of Virgin Mary Church, Brno

The Assumption of Virgin Mary Church (Kostel Nanebevzetí Panny Marie) in Brno is a significant historical and architectural landmark. This church is one of three Jesuit churches built in Brno and is deeply associated with the Jesuit order's educational mission in the city. The Jesuit college, linked to the church, provided free education to peasants, becoming a key center of knowledge and re-Catholicization in the region.

The church and the college were established in 1578 on the site of a medieval convent, making the college the sixth oldest in Czech lands and the second oldest in Moravia. The construction of the complex was supported by Cardinal and Count František of Dietrichstein, a key figure in the re-Catholicization of Moravia, and his brother, Zikmund, the Provincial Vice-Chamberlain. Both are buried in front of the church's high altar. The church itself, completed in 1602, is one of the earliest Baroque buildings in Brno and Moravia.

The architecture of the church is notable for its Baroque features. The building is a triple-nave structure, with a monumental altar dating from 1734 to 1737, which features a replica of a Madonna painting from Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. The church's interior is adorned with altarpieces and ceiling paintings by F. A. Scheffler and sculptures by J. J. Schauberger. The pews in the gallery (1602–1605) and the main nave (1660s), as well as the organ with its figurative decorations, are particularly remarkable. The sacristy vault is decorated with stucco garlands and putti heads, showcasing the intricate Baroque style.

Originally serving the Jesuit Order until its dissolution in 1773, the complex later became an academy and military barracks. In 1904, the college and monastic buildings were demolished, leaving only the church. Despite severe damage in the 1944 bombing of Brno, the church remains a historic site. In 2020, a statue of Jesuit Father Martin Středa was erected in front of the church, honoring its Jesuit heritage.