Medieval
Church
Abandoned after a roof collapse during a funeral in 1968, this church is now inhabited by a permanent congregation of hooded, ghostly statues. Locals believed the building was cursed, leaving it to rot for decades before it was turned into a haunting art installation.
Founded in the 14th century, the Church of Saint George in Lukova fell into a state of haunting disrepair following a tragic event in 1968. During a funeral service, the roof collapsed on the mourners, leading the local congregation to believe the building was cursed. They abandoned the structure, leaving it to the elements for decades. The pews remained empty and the stone walls crumbled until 2012, when a local artist named Jakub Hadrava transformed the space into a chilling art installation. He placed dozens of life-sized, hooded figures made of plaster and burlap into the pews. These ghosts represent the Sudeten Germans who lived in the village before World War II and prayed at the church every Sunday. Today, the figures sit in eternal, silent prayer, their featureless faces turned toward the altar. The sight of these white, shrouded forms sitting amidst the decay of the medieval church creates an atmosphere of profound unease and sadness. It serves as a literal ghost of the community that once thrived there, making it one of the most visually disturbing religious sites in Europe.
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/st-georges-church-lukova