Church of St James in Brno: History & Tower Statue

High on Moravia's tallest church tower, a tiny stone figure has been flashing its bare rear end at a rival cathedral for centuries. The Church of St James (Kostel sv. Jakuba) is a late Gothic three-nave hall church located on Jakubské náměstí just north of Freedom Square in central Brno. Designated a Czech National Cultural Monument, it physically encapsulates the long-standing civic and architectural rivalry between the lowland burghers' parish and the upper city cathedral.

The Indecent Little Man

High up on the south window arch of the tower sits a small late Gothic stone carving known as "Nehaňba" or "Neslušný mužíček" (the Indecent Little Man). Spotting the subtle figure requires standing in the square below and craning the neck upward toward the high stone window tracery, where it is easily missed against the soaring vertical facade.

Though it appears as a single small man from street level, close inspection reveals the stone carving is actually a two-headed double figure. Its exposed rear end is oriented directly south, pointing straight at the rival Cathedral of St Peter and Paul on Petrov Hill.

Local tradition claims the carving was an insolent gesture added after St James beat the Cathedral of St Peter and Paul in a competition to build the city's tallest tower. Another legend suggests an expelled master builder carved the indecent figure as a farewell insult to the jealous patrons of Petrov who used political influence to run him out of Brno. Despite these colorful stories, historians note that humorous and rude stone grotesques were a recognized tradition in Gothic architectural decoration throughout Europe.

Eight Centuries of History

The site's first recorded Romanesque church was consecrated between 1228 and 1231 for German, Flemish, and Walloon colonists settling in medieval Brno. It was replaced by a High Gothic structure before evolving into its present late Gothic form starting in the mid-15th century under builders including Anton Pilgram. Italian architect Antonio Gabri built the main tower and spire between 1581 and 1592.

The interior holds the tomb of Field Marshal Jean-Louis Raduit de Souches, the military commander who defended Brno during the 1645 Swedish siege. Over the centuries, the church received Baroque marble altars in the 1750s and 1760s, followed by an 1870s Gothic Revival restoration led by Heinrich von Ferstel.

Modern Restorations and Current Use

Following a three-year restoration, the church reopened to the public in June 2024 as an active Roman Catholic parish. The impressive spire measures between 92 and 94 meters tall, making it the highest church tower in Moravia.

Visitors can tour the four-story wooden roof trusses, which feature an audiovisual holographic light show. Open tower tours provide access to historic bells, including a massive 7.5-tonne bell, along with clockwork mechanisms and a 43-meter-high city viewpoint. Adjacent to the church lies the entrance to the Ossuary of St James, which was discovered in 2001 and operates as a separate public memorial site.