On Brno's Freedom Square, the first stone of the new pavement will be laid

Brno - The central Brno Freedom Square is awaiting the completion of a long reconstruction of the pavement. The cornerstone of the new paving will be laid by the builders on Tuesday. The surface made of Mrákotín granite is expected to be laid by the end of October. After that, normal life will return to the once busy square, now largely closed.
"The square will hopefully finally take on the form that many of my predecessors have strived for," said Mayor Richard Svoboda (ODS) to ČTK today. The reconstruction, which also includes the construction of water features and the planting of greenery, will cost the city a total of 180 million crowns.
The Marian plague column in Freedom Square will also undergo repairs. Restorers will begin work on it in May. "The cost of the work is almost 4.7 million crowns. The restoration of the monument is to be completed by the contract by August 8th," specified Deputy Mayor Radomír Jonáš (ODS).
The plague column was built between 1679 and 1687 according to the design of Jan Křtitel Erna in collaboration with Brno sculptors. It is dominated by a statue of the Virgin Mary, accompanied by Christian saints. In the artificially created cave at the foot of the column rests Saint Rosalia.