Village church cut off by water: Pasohlávky seeking to save St. Linhart’s
The fate of St. Linhart’s church, standing abandoned on an island in the middle of the Nové Mlýny reservoirs, hangs in the balance. The decaying landmark, which is off-limits to the public, was once part of the village of Mušov, which disappeared under water during the construction of the reservoirs.
When the village of Mušov gave way to the construction of the Nove Mlyny reservoirs in 1987 the water stopped short of submerging the local church – the only building left standing to tell the tale of a long-lost settlement. For over half a century it has stood on a forbidden, man-made island, veiled in mystery and cut off from the community it once served.
For many local residents it holds a special significance and they want to see it preserved. Mušov native Zdenka Zemánková shared her memories during a special broadcast by Czech Radio in 2019 when it arranged a visit for the locals to the church.
“For us, this place holds memories—first communions, feast days, masses for the youth of Mušov, live music in the choir loft.”
The church also played a key role in the life of another Mušov resident, Václav Čermák.
“I served here as an altar boy, I was baptized here, even got married here. These are memories you never forget,” he said.
The municipality of Pasohlávky, which owns the church, now plans to stabilize the building. The decision was accelerated after crowds of people walked across the frozen reservoir to reach it during the winter months —despite the site being off-limits as it lies within a protected bird reserve.
Mayor Martina Dominová says visiting the church can be dangerous. “We know the building isn’t in a condition to safely handle the crowds that came across the ice in January and February. We don’t want anyone to get hurt,” she explained.
The question is what's to be done about it. The mayor says the plan to transfer the church into state or regional ownership is not realistic. At the same time, the municipality cannot afford to finance the repairs by itself. Following recommendations from heritage experts, the municipality will first commission structural and technical assessments to determine the building’s condition and then explore the possibility of obtaining funding from the South Moravian Region for the project. The actual restoration could then be financed through national and European grant programs,” the mayor explained.
Even so, she cautioned that conserving the church will not be a matter of just a few years, largely due to the high costs and logistical challenges—since all materials must be transported by water. At the very least, the building will need a new roof to prevent further damage from rain.
Any plans must also be approved by heritage authorities. “Even though it is endangered, it remains a cultural monument. The mayor must fulfill her responsibilities as the owner despite the difficult circumstances,” says Petr Vácha, head of the Brno branch of the National Heritage Institute.
Another factor complicating the situation is a plan by the Morava River Basin Authority to raise the water level of the reservoir by about 30 centimeters. The project is currently tied up in legal disputes with environmental groups.
According to spokesperson Jana Kučerová, however, the water level has been that high before and does not pose a threat to the church.
“The island is protected against wave erosion, and the church itself stands on a reinforced concrete slab with anchors that stabilize it against buoyant forces,” she said.
Even if the restoration succeeds, the public will still not be allowed to enter the site due to its location within a protected bird sanctuary.
Yet for many, the church is more than a monument. Some former residents of Mušov, displaced before the village was flooded, still live in Pasohlávky today. For them, the isolated structure remains the last tangible link to their former home—and the municipality says it intends to respect that emotional bond as it decides the church’s future.