In Brno, the reconstruction of St. James' Church has started for 131 million

Brno – In Brno, the reconstruction of the Gothic St. Jacob's Church has begun at a cost of 131 million crowns. The work will affect the roof, frameworks, windows, and stone elements on the facade. This was stated to journalists today by Pastor Jan Pacner. According to him, some parts were already in poor condition, and without repairs, there was a risk of closure for safety reasons. A 42-meter high observation point will also be created. During the work, which will last almost two years, the operation of the church will be limited. Most of the costs will be covered by a grant from the European Union, with ten million contributed by the city of Brno.

According to Pacner, the repairs are necessary. "The most important task is the replacement of the 2500 m² large copper roof covering, through which water seeps inside and causes the frameworks to rot. They also need to be repaired,” said Pacner.

According to him, the stone elements on the facade are often in a critical state, which could threaten the safety of pedestrians around the church. Part of the reconstruction includes the replacement of windows. "An observation point will be created at a height of 42 meters. This will give Brno another attractive point for residents and visitors,” said Deputy Mayor Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL). The observation point will be operated by the Tourist Information Center of the City of Brno.

The parish has been striving for the repairs of the church for several years. Originally, they planned the work to take four years, but due to the European Union grant of 112 million crowns, they must complete it by the end of 2023. If additional funds can be obtained, the parish would like to restore the precious organ, according to Pacner. People can contribute to the reconstruction through the website. The church will be closed for part of the day, but it should be open to visitors in the afternoon and for evening services. "It is possible that we will have to close the church for some time. Traffic in the vicinity will remain unaffected. It will be necessary to occupy space for scaffolding and materials around the church, which will partially limit the terraces of restaurants. We will try to minimize all restrictions,” added Pacner.

The St. Jacob's Church, dating back to the 13th century, is a building 54 meters long. The tower reaches a height of approximately 94 meters. The current appearance of the church developed in the 16th century.