Martínkov: Church, History and Folklore

Martínkov brings together a distinctive church, a museum and a local event tradition. If you are looking for a hotel in Martínkov, you can start by deciding what brings you here: are you primarily interested in architecture and the town’s history, Václav Kosmák’s biography, or a stay timed around a folklore festival? If you are travelling for an event, check the specific date in advance.

Church and history of Martínkov

The parish Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary is an early Baroque building that shapes the character of Martínkov and its wider surroundings. It has been listed as an immovable cultural monument since 1958. Its core is medieval, and the chancel ends in a late Gothic polygonal form. A polygonal end has several sides, unlike a simple straight wall. The tower was built in the second half of the 16th century, and the nave in 1713. The building’s history also includes repairs in 1671 and its Baroque transformation in 1713. The church thus brings together several phases of construction spanning a long period.

The former fortress is another point of reference for the area’s history: it was first mentioned in 1368 and developed into a centre of radical Hussitism in Moravia. The town’s history thus extends beyond the building history of the church. At the Jordán pond, another kind of remembrance comes into play: according to tradition, the Hussites baptised their children there. The pond itself is considered a notable place in Martínkov and offers a second way to explore local history, this time through a local story.

Museum and cultural traditions

The Václav Kosmák Museum is dedicated to the priest, writer, translator and Czech National Revival figure who was born in Martínkov. Its exhibition also includes excerpts from Kosmák’s biography. This personal portrait complements the themes of the church, fortress and Hussitism: instead of focusing only on buildings and historical periods, you can learn about a person connected with Martínkov and his varied work.

The Martínkov folk costume festival (Martínkovské krojované hody) has been celebrated since 1982. It includes a Sunday folklore procession and dance performances beneath the maypole. These elements give the festival its distinctive cultural focus. If you would like to plan your trip around the hody, check the specific event date in advance.

Music and dance reveal other sides of local cultural life. The Jordán choir performs sacred, folk and folkloric music. Since 1987, the Džbánek and Martínek folklore ensemble has used material from the Horácko region in its dances. Different forms of expression come together here: a musical repertoire spanning sacred music and folklore, and regional material in the dances. The Sokolovna (Sokol hall) also remains an important gathering place for social and cultural life in Martínkov.

A specific sporting event took place on 1 August 2026: Martínkov hosted the 15th edition of the Staffmarathon Pocta Emilu Zátopkovi. As a past event, it adds another chapter to local events alongside the long-standing folklore tradition.

Practical information for your stay

The Pohostinství Martínkov inn serves a daily menu from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. If you would like to include this time slot in your plans for the day, check the opening details before your trip.

For a cultural and historical stay, the church, former fortress and Kosmák’s story take centre stage; if you are travelling for the hody, the specific festival date matters. This lets you choose a hotel based on what you most want to discover in Martínkov.

Discover more destinations: Dalešice, Vlčatín, Okřešice, Dešov, Rohy, Litohoř, Budkov, Budišov

Go to the broader travel guide: Třebíč District.