Archaeologists have discovered the remains of churches in Vrchlabí

Vrchlabí - Archaeologists in Vrchlabí have discovered the foundations of a medieval church, a finding that may rewrite the history of the town. The research is being conducted next to the current St. Lawrence Church in Míru Square, which is undergoing extensive reconstruction costing approximately 40 million crowns. This was reported to ČTK by archaeologists and representatives of the town hall.

The town hall wants to restore the square to its appearance at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. "We discovered part of a wall with a supporting pillar, which could belong to a ruined church from the 14th, possibly even the 13th century. We had no idea about this church. If our assumptions are confirmed, the history of Vrchlabí could move back 50 or even 100 years. It could be the oldest architectural monument in the town," said Ondřej Tůma, an archaeologist from the Trutnov Museum, to ČTK.

According to him, the findings show that development in this area was more complex than previously thought. "We were aware of the church destroyed in the 19th century, the foundations of which we also encountered. The discovery of older masonry indicates that it likely had an older predecessor," Tůma said.

The reconstruction of the square, which is set to be completed by September, is related to the adjustment of a busy intersection. The main road will be narrowed and shifted toward the historic buildings, and a space with benches and flower beds will be created in front of the church. The city hopes that relocating the road will calm traffic. Adjustments will also affect engineering networks and public lighting as well as the plague column, which was now hidden behind trees next to the church. "The main idea is to relocate the road that crossed the square back to its original route. There will be a slight reduction in parking spots. We will also move the plague column closer to its original location," said Mayor Jan Sobotka.

An interesting feature will be the restoration of the water channel. "In the past, it was covered. We want to open it up again and create a water feature in the square about 30 meters long, a kind of indication of the historical water channel. Water from the Elbe will flow through it," Sobotka said. A new attraction in the revamped square is set to be a sundial. "When you stand on the marked spot, your own shadow will show you the time. This way, a person becomes part of the sundial," Sobotka said.

The reconstruction of Míru Square is a significant investment for the city. However, the largest investment project of this year is the reconstruction of the water treatment plant for 85 million crowns, which is expected to be completed in the fall.