In Třinec-Gutech, the construction of a replica of the burned-down church will begin today

Třinec-Guty - In Třinec-Guty, located in the Frýdek-Místek area, the construction of a replica of a historic wooden church that burned down in the summer of 2017 will begin today. Construction technicians will first repair or newly construct the foundations. Václav Kotásek, the head of the construction department of the Ostrava-Opava bishopric, informed ČTK. The work is more than a year behind schedule. Delays were caused by negotiations with heritage preservationists and firefighters, who were not satisfied with the fire safety measures for a long time. The construction of the replica will cost 27 million crowns.

The work will begin today with the restoration of the damaged foundations. The foundations are all that remains of the historic building. According to Kotásek, wooden structures should begin to be transported in early June. A carpentry company has been assembling the building from prepared wood in Hošťálková in the Vsetín area since last year. Kotásek does not want to estimate exactly when the construction will be completed. He added that the first service in the new church should take place next year.

The work was originally scheduled to start in 2018, but negotiations with heritage preservationists delayed it. Last year's deadlines were not met due to a dispute between the bishopric and the firefighters, who approved the fire safety of the building only on their third attempt.

The 16th-century church burned down on the night of August 2, 2017. The fire caused damage of around 20 million crowns. The regional court in Ostrava sentenced three eighteen-year-olds from the Ostrava and Frýdek-Místek areas to prison for 3.5 years, eight, and nine years for setting fire to the valuable church. The harshest sentence was given to the young man who devised the plan. The lightest sentence was imposed on the boy who ignited the building, as he was not of legal age at the time of the act. The driver who brought everyone to the site received an eight-year sentence.