In the Dechtice village, located under the Little Carphatians’ hills and which since the 16th century developed as a yeoman town, there are two churches. The originally Gothic Roman – Catholic Church of St. Catherine (the so called lower church) from the 14th century was extended and rebuilt in Barouque style in 1612. However, the most significant cultural and historical sight of the village is the Romanesque Rotunda of All Saints (the so called upper church) in the cemetery, originating from 1172. Although it does not look like as a rotunda at the first sight, it belongs to the group of these medieval buildings. The rotunda was already modified in construction in the period of the late Gothic style. However, the significant Baroque renovation was carried out in 1741 when also the tower was added. In this period, the southern portal stopped to be used and the church entrance was moved to the western side of the area under the tower. During the World War II the tower was damaged. Fortunately it did not fell down and it was repaired in 1945. The rotunda was reconstructed in 1985 as well as 1986; and in 1991 the interior together with the Baroque altar was renewed. Nowadays, it is used only occasionally for services. Although it has a rectangular –shaped nave and apse from the outside, it belongs to unique examples of a building with typical features of a rotunda in the inside. The rotunda interior is decorated with unique fractions of Romanesque and early Gothic wall paintings from the 12th and 14th century. A crypt, where the members of the yeoman family of Jackovič are buried, is located under the church. On the eastern side of the apse, one can find an original wheel window. The research uncovered also the remains of Romanesque decoration in a form of a tooth ornament, a decorative component from bricks which is typical for Romanesque architecture. The originally south portal, in which a smaller portal with a pointed arch was inserted, is a proof of the church reconstruction in the late Gothic period. The fact that it partially copies the inner oval space is another proof that this unusual solution of the nave is original.

 

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