The city will support efforts to register the area of the Old Brno Abbey on the UNESCO list

Photo: Radek Miča, News from MUNI

Brno - The area of the Old Brno Monastery at Mendlovo Square could become the second UNESCO heritage site in Brno. The city council agreed today to provide a grant to the organization Together, which preserves the legacy of G. J. Mendel. The city will contribute six million crowns over three years, during which the preparation of nomination documentation will take place, Mayor Markéta Vaňková (ODS) told reporters today. Support must be approved by the city councilors.

Initially, the monastery only wanted to list Mendel's greenhouse in the garden of the Augustinian convent on the UNESCO list. After a series of negotiations and expert consultations, the intention was expanded to include the entire monastery complex. "The complex meets the necessary criteria for listing, especially considering that it has been a national cultural monument since July 1, 2023. Therefore, we decided to support this concept of the nomination," Vaňková said.

According to her, having two historically distinct UNESCO heritage sites would be a great benefit for Brno and exceptional in a global context. She does not fear excessive tourism. "A qualified estimate is that it would mean an annual increase in the number of visitors to the city by 20,000 to 30,000, and additionally, the length of their stay would be extended," she added.

The preparatory phase of the project, which includes organizing an exhibition or conference and the actual preparation of the nomination documentation, will last from this year until 2025. Annual expenses are expected to be around 5.1 million crowns, bringing total expenses to over 15 million. The grant from the city budget amounts to six million.