The Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Vítochov
The church over Vítochov looks like a Romanesque-Gothic castle; it offers spectacular views of the locale and nearby Bystřice nad Pernštejnem. It reputedly stands on the site of a former pagan burial ground and is shrouded in legend. One of the legends says that once upon a time during the Great Moravian empire St. Methodius was passing through, he was heartily welcomed by the lord of Vítochov, who adopted the Christian faith. He than had a chapel built to commemorate the valued visit, supposedly at a place where a pine tree planted with roots upwards took. When Methodius returned after some time, he saw the new church, remembered his promise, personally consecrated the church and administered the first Holy Mass rites on a simple stone altar. It is only a legend – the Vítochov church may belong among the oldest in Moravia, however it was probably built around the mid 13th century, therefore definitely without any doing of Methodius. Another church of St. Cyril and Methodius is in Nové Syrovice near Moravské Budějovice, a Neo-Romanesque building finished by 1906.
