The Cathedral of St. Teresa of Avila in Bjelovar was built in the late Baroque style and is located on the main town square, dominated by its height and richly decorated facade. Built between 1765 and 1771, the church is significant not only for its architecture, but also for its historical importance to the city. Its facade, divided by pilasters and niches, and the 52-meter-high bell tower make this building recognizable in the urban structure of the city.
As a single-nave building, the church has a rounded sanctuary and a spacious nave, along with a choir with an organ, located above the church vestibule. The interior is decorated with painted windows and wall paintings, and there is a large crypt under the church.
The history of the church is closely connected with the arrival of the Piarists, monks dedicated to education, who founded a school in Bjelovar in 1761. The church became a parish church in 1772, and was consecrated by Zagreb bishop Josip Galjuf in 1775. The building of the Piarist College and School was built next to the church, and the church survived many historical challenges, including the great earthquake of 1880, after which it was restored by the famous architect Herman Bollé. The Church of St. Teresa of Avila was named after the Spanish saint and church teacher St. Teresa of Avila, who was the patroness of the Austrian empress Maria Theresa, the founder of the city of Bjelovar in 1756. In the earthquake of 1880, the church and rectory suffered significant damage. The architect Hermann Bollé, known for the restoration of the Zagreb Cathedral, oversaw the restoration of the church in 1888. The interior of the church was completely renovated in 1896, restoring its original baroque splendor.
The Church of St. Teresa was declared a cultural monument, and in 2009, Pope Benedict XVI founded the Diocese of Bjelovar-Križevci so the church became a cathedral. Today, it symbolizes the centuries-old history and cultural identity of Bjelovar.
