Moravská Třebová will start renovating the church it received from the church

Moravská Třebová - Moravská Třebová in Svitavy will begin the restoration of the Renaissance church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross this year. The monument was acquired from the church into municipal ownership in January. The town hall will start with the roof repairs. This was stated by Mayor Pavel Charvát (ODS) to ČTK. The church is one of the most valuable historical monuments of its kind in Moravia.

The church was not used by the church and did not have the capacity to take care of it. Therefore, the town negotiated the transfer. The church dates back to the early 17th century and has a unique collection of Renaissance tombstones and wooden polychrome benches from 1630. It is the last part of the comprehensive collection of monuments in the area of Křížový vrch, which has not yet been made accessible to the public.

According to Charvát, the town hall can begin repairs now that the church belongs to it. "We are currently looking for a company that will repair the shingle roof this year. We also have a selected company that will carry out gas treatment against woodworm, as it is infested. We have a general agreement with the restoration school in Litomyšl that they will conduct building-historical surveys for us and collaborate with us on the gradual restoration," said Charvát.

Wood-destroying insects are destroying the valuable furnishings, which include wooden galleries, altars, and the choir. In April, a specialized company will carry out complete treatment. The survey of the building should be completed this year. "At the same time, we will offer students partial seminars focusing on historical development or restoration," said Deputy Mayor Václav Dokoupil (KDU-ČSL).

The restoration of the church will take a long time; the building-historical survey is fundamental for further investments. The city has allocated 700,000 crowns for this year, and the budget will be approved at the end of March. "It's a long-distance race; it consists of smaller details, but something is always happening. The survey is the basis for us to start seeking various grants for the restoration of individual parts. And it serves as a guideline for what exists and what to do with it next," Charvát said.

The church is structurally sound. The Roman Catholic parish has invested ten million crowns into it in the past 20 years from grants. "We will definitely strive this year to be included in the architectural heritage preservation program, where long-term financial support can be obtained," said Dokoupil.

The church stands on Křížový vrch. In 1499, the cemetery was transferred there by the order of Ladislav from Boskovice. The Renaissance cemetery church was built from 1603 to 1605 on the site of an older Gothic structure from 1505, and the builder was Andreas Balzer from the Silesian Nisa. Notable within it are the Baroque interior paintings by Juda Tadeáš Supper. On the outside of the church, Renaissance stone tombstones of significant burghers and figures from Moravská Třebová are placed. Further valuable tombstones are in the cemetery and in the lapidarium established from the former mortuary. The so-called Dead Man's Steps, with a Renaissance portal from 1575, led from the town to the cemetery.

"This year we will offer the church for tours by prior arrangement through the information center. From next year, we could open it regularly. We have contractual conditions that we will continue to provide the church for liturgical purposes," said Dokoupil.