The mortuary has also made it onto the list of monuments in the Olomouc region

Šumperk - The morgue from the end of the 19th century in Moravičany in the Šumperk region has recently been added to the list of cultural monuments in the Olomouc region. Its heritage value lies, according to conservationists, primarily in its incorporation into the very valuable complex of the Church of St. George with chapels, a rectory, and a school, said Vlastimil Staněk, spokesman for the Olomouc branch of the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ), to ČTK. The Gothic church has been on the list of monuments for nearly 60 years.

"The extension was realized by the construction entrepreneur Josef Sova from Loštice and was created in 1896 on the site of the cemetery land. It was originally designed for the parish office as a chamber for church and cemetery needs, which should be a traditional part of cemetery facilities," Staněk stated.

The morgue is a simple one-story building with a rectangular floor plan, attached to the eastern facade of the economic wing belonging to the rectory. It has a plain interior, without divisions, with one window, the walls and ceiling are whitewashed, and the floor of the ground floor and attic consists of laid bricks. "It is a utilitarian architecture preserved in its authenticity and rare documentation of the organization of funerals from the second half of the 19th century," the spokesman for the Olomouc branch of the NPÚ said.

The morgue building is preserved in its original form from the time of construction, and the basic structural elements are in good condition. However, moisture is evident on the ground floor, and water is leaking into the building due to a damaged roof.

The Church of St. George in Moravičany, to which the morgue is attached, is a Gothic structure from the late 15th century. According to experts, it is very valuable sacral architecture both artistically and historically. The church complex, along with the rectory, chapels, a perimeter wall with an entrance gate, and the parish school, was listed as a cultural monument in 1958.