Big repairs at Zelená hora will not begin until spring; preparations have been prolonged

Žďár nad Sázavou - Repairs to the facade and windows of the pilgrimage church of St. John of Nepomuk on Zelená hora in Žďár will begin next spring. The parish that owns this UNESCO-listed monument originally planned to start the work this summer, but their preparations took longer. The curator Lenka Houbová told ČTK today. Currently, workers in the church are making minor adjustments, such as adding lighting.

The restoration of the church, costing more than 40 million crowns, has a promised European grant for the parish. The repair of the church's facade will be among the first works. According to the curator, the project timelines are set in such a way that a postponement should not cause problems. "In spring, as soon as the weather permits, work will begin right away," she stated.

The restoration of the church consecrated in 1722 is expected to take four years and will also involve the interior. The monument will then more closely resemble its original appearance, which was shaped by architect Jan Blažej Santini - Aichel. At the end of the work, experts will focus on transforming the area of the former cemetery between the church and the cloister into a pilgrimage meadow. The Roman Catholic parish, which has managed Zelená hora since 2014, received funding for the church repairs from the European IROP program.

In last year's tourist season, more than 36,000 people visited the pilgrimage site, and this year's attendance is currently comparable, Houbová noted. Tourists are also interested in the nearby baroque cemetery, which was also built according to Santini's design. The cemetery has been exceptionally accessible since July. On weekends, about 200 people visit there daily, according to the curator.