The Klatovy Jesuit Church is awaiting reconstruction for 100 million crowns

Klatovy - The church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary and St. Ignatius in the main square of Klatovy is set to undergo extensive reconstruction, which the church aims to start this year. The Plzeň Diocese has succeeded in securing a grant from the European Union. Repairing the significant Baroque Jesuit church is expected to cost 103 million crowns, with the grant covering about 90 percent, said Plzeň Bishop Tomáš Holub today to ČTK.

Thanks to previous European grants, the roof of the church has already been repaired for ten million crowns, and the catacombs with 38 preserved mummies of Jesuits and townspeople have been restored for 24 million crowns. The catacombs are currently the most visited monument in the city, attracting 47,000 visitors last year. After the church reconstruction is completed, there are plans for a passage from the catacombs in the crypt directly into the church. This way, tourists will also be able to view the interior of the temple with a guide, added Klatovy Deputy Mayor Václav Chroust (ODS).

"For us, it is important that the Jesuit church continues to be a place where the possibility of liturgy, concerts, and tourist activity come together," said Holub. The project includes repairs to the electrical installation, networks, all external plastering, restoration of valuable frescoes, the organ, the altar, and creating tourist facilities. The city will contribute to the costs. It has so far promised a contribution of 3.5 million crowns. The town hall will also have the main staircase to the temple leveled and repaired. "It is a bit of a peculiar situation, but the steps to the church do not belong to the church; they are on the city’s property," said Chroust.

He is pleased that the landmark of the square will be repaired. "There will be a reconstruction of the organ and restoration of the beautiful Baroque illusionistic paintings in the presbytery and in the dome of the church," he stated. The frescoes were created in 1716 by Johann Hiebel, who also worked for the Jesuits, for example, in the Clementinum in Prague. According to Chroust, the frescoes in Klatovy are among his largest preserved illusionistic paintings in the Czech Republic. "It is still an undiscovered Czech Caravaggio," the deputy mayor added.

The diocese is preparing a tender and intends to start repairs this year. The reconstruction must be completed by the end of 2019. In addition to Klatovy, the church has also successfully applied for grants for the repair of other significant temples. A hundred million crowns reconstruction is awaited for the Plzeň Cathedral of St. Bartholomew, and the church in Plasy will be repaired for about 80 million crowns. The diocese is also striving for a grant for the repair of the Baroque church in Přeštice for approximately 80 million crowns, added Holub.