The construction of the motorway chapel near Velké Meziříčí is planned to start by the bishopric in the summer

Velké Meziříčí - The construction of the highway chapel near Velké Meziříčí in the Žďár region is planned to start by the Brno diocese at the turn of this June and July. The building permit has been valid since mid-this month. The first highway chapel on the D1 should be completed by the end of 2026. It will be located at the 145th kilometer of the highway towards Brno. This follows from today's report from the diocese.

"We would like to dedicate the chapel to Saint Christopher, who is the patron saint of all motorists, and also to Saint Zdislava, the patroness of families, who was born in Křižanov, not far from where the building will be erected," said Brno Bishop Pavel Konzbul. The diocese wishes for the chapel to be a place for everyone, not just the believers. "Besides drivers, Saint Christopher is also the patron of those who seek direction and meaning in life – we want to regularly remember them in the chapel," he stated.

The idea for the highway chapel was brought forward several years ago by the now emeritus Brno Bishop Vojtěch Cikrle, who had seen highway chapels abroad. "In our diocese, this location was the most suitable, with a beautiful view of the landscape and a view of the nearby church and castle," he stated.

The chapel should be clearly visible from the highway and also from Velké Meziříčí. It will have a solid wall facing the D1 to block noise, while the side facing the city will feature a large glass area. The design is created by architect Zdeněk Bureš, and Karel Rechlík will provide the artistic decoration of the interior. According to the diocese, the estimated cost of the chapel's construction is between five and six million crowns.

Drivers will be able to take home a sticker of a guardian angel from the chapel, and they will be able to place requests or thanks in a special box. Mass will be regularly held in the chapel for the written intentions, the diocese announced.

In addition to the chapel, a café and parking spaces should be added at the rest area by the D1. "Further expansion of the space around the chapel is under the jurisdiction of the Directorate of Roads and Highways, with which we will coordinate our construction; we are currently fine-tuning the exact timeline for the different phases," said Aleš Taufar from the diocese's construction department.

In the Czech Republic, a highway chapel has been in operation on the D5 at the Šlovice rest area near Plzeň since 2008.