In Frýdlant, they have restored the forgotten Stations of the Cross

Frýdlant - In Frýdlant in the Liberec region, a nearly forgotten Stations of the Cross has been restored thanks to a grant from European funds. The rescue of this valuable sacred monument, which likely dates back to the 17th century after the Thirty Years' War, was one of the activities of the Czech-German project Memory in the Landscape of the Three Lands and cost over three million crowns. The official opening of the Stations of the Cross is scheduled for May 12 of next year, with the participation of the Bishop of Litoměřice, Jan Baxant, spokesperson for the Frýdlant town hall, Martina Petrášková, said today.

"The project for the restoration of the Stations of the Cross included the complete restoration of all 14 stations, the artificially created rock caves of the apostles Peter and John, as well as the stone niche that replaces a spring, into which rainwater from the slope flows," described the scope of work by the city's investment department, Zdena Ubiasová. The Stations of the Cross will receive new enamel images, as the original ones did not survive. "They are somewhat different from the classic depictions found in Stations of the Cross, but we believe visitors will like them," added mayor Dan Ramzer (ODS).

The individual stations of the path were damaged and toppled; over the last decade, the Cross Hill has been overgrown with invasive trees. Workers, restorers, and even tree care specialists, known as arborists, were involved in the work. According to Ramzer, it was also necessary to adjust the surroundings of the Stations of the Cross. At the time of its creation, the hill was almost bare; however, it is currently forested. The path has also been improved; the original path was nearly indistinguishable, and now tourists walk along a clearly defined and comfortable paved path. The Stations of the Cross also include three new viewpoints, two of which offer an extraordinary view of Frýdlant Castle and the third of the town.

For Frýdlant, according to Ramzer, the restoration of the Stations of the Cross is another paid debt from the past, when such monuments were neglected. "In the past, similar things were devastated and left to their fate. We are changing that today. Progress has been made in the cemetery, the Špitálek has been reconstructed, Simon's nativity scene is new, the square has been revitalized, and the statue of Albrecht von Wallenstein has returned," listed recent projects by the mayor of Frýdlant. Additionally, a new forest educational trail has been created on Cross Hill thanks to a Czech-Polish project.