Frýdlant is preparing the restoration of the area around the Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross and will apply for grants

Frýdlant – In Frýdlant, in the Liberec region, preparations are underway for the restoration of the area around the Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross, which the city has acquired free of charge from the church in recent years. The town hall has commissioned a study for the revitalization of the space. The first phase could begin as early as next year, with the restoration focusing on the grassy areas between Kostelní and Děkanská streets, which includes the terracotta Stations of the Cross that are so damaged that few people are aware of them, said city hall spokesperson Martina Petrášková today. Frýdlant plans to apply for grants for the project.

"We have a primary proposal on the table for the overall solution of the space around the church, which we had prepared by a designer, and now we will focus on its individual parts. In the city council, we discussed, for example, the boundary wall, considering whether it will be restored only from the visible side or from both sides, and we reached the decision that we will have it fully restored. We also decided to involve the Cultural Commission of the city of Frýdlant in the project," added Mayor Dan Ramzer (ODS).

According to the mayor, the commission should prepare a proposal for the color scheme of the boundary wall and also a proposal for the restoration of the memorial to Frýdlant personalities, which stands between the church and the building of the former Salt House. "The commission should come up with a proposal on whether to leave the memorial in its current form, restore its historical form, or find another variant. The opinion of the cultural commission will be advisory for the council," said Ramzer. The Stations of the Cross will also be restored, in front of which there will be a stone path and benches at the end of the grassy area. "So that visitors can rest for a while in this beautiful part of the city," he added.

The revitalization of the surroundings of the dean's church built in the mid-16th century also includes an area for sculptures and other artworks, and the adjustment of the space by the Marian column. "There will be no parking around the Marian column; the area will be paved with large-format granite tiles, which will incorporate the lighting of the column. Parking will be resolved outside the church area, behind its boundary wall in part of the current garden," added Dana Kiliánová, head of the city's investment department.

The project also includes the restoration of paved surfaces and the construction of new ones, a new storm drain, repair of the façade of the cemetery chapel, and also landscaping adjustments. "The work will be funded from the budget of Frýdlant, but we also want to take advantage of possible grants from the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic or Liberec Region. We plan to apply for a grant for the first phase, which could take place in 2025–2026," added Ramzer.