The church on Zelená hora has a repaired facade, repairs will be finished in a year

Žďár nad Sázavou – The Church of St. John of Nepomuk on the Green Mountain in Žďár nad Sázavou has had its facade plaster repaired. Experts are already working on the restoration of the interior; this work is taking place both in the church and in restoration studios, reported the coordinator of the repairs, František Laštovička, to ČTK. The pilgrimage complex, a work of architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichl, is listed on the UNESCO list. The restoration project, costing 45 million crowns and funded by the European Union, has been carried out by the parish since last year, and the final stage will be next year.

Tourist tours and worship services are taking place in the church even during the repairs. "The fact that the church is currently without altars and some parts are partially covered with plastic sheeting has led us to reduce the admission fee," said priest Vladimír Záleský. According to him, combining construction work with regular operations is not easy. So far, it seems that the repairs have not deterred visitors too much, he noted. The number of wedding ceremonies has decreased, with most moving to the nearby Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, managed by the same parish.

"The repairs are being carried out according to the original schedule in terms of timing and substantive content," stated Laštovička. Considering technological processes, it will likely not be possible to complete the final coating of the southern part of the facade this year, with that work expected to be done in the spring. This year, workers should finish the installation of new windows in the upper floor of the church, returning them to their original appearance. Approximately a hundred years ago, some of them were bricked up.

The project also includes the restoration of the internal sculptural decoration of the church and the plasters on the ground floor and the first gallery. According to Laštovička, work will continue in the church even during the winter, if the temperature inside permits. "Studio work will be ongoing," he stated.

Next year, it will be necessary to complete the restoration in the church and repair the flooring. The area between the church and the ambulatory, where the cemetery was located, will be arranged so that it can serve as a pilgrimage meadow. According to Laštovička, the most complicated will be the reconstruction of the church floor. The original multicolored tiles of various shapes arranged in geometric patterns are to be restored.

The church on the Green Mountain was consecrated in 1722 and became a sought-after pilgrimage site. A fire in 1784 interrupted the flourishing period of the complex. The Roman Catholic parish has managed the Green Mountain since 2014.