<Big_Meziříčí> wants to discuss the use of the synagogue, in which there is a market

Velké Meziříčí - Velké Meziříčí in the Žďár region plans to continue discussions with the Brno Jewish community regarding the use of the New Synagogue. Currently, a tenant operates a market in the neo-Gothic heritage-protected building. The city would like to use it for cultural and social purposes in the future. The estimated cost of restoring the monument is, according to the completed structural-technical survey, 30 million crowns excluding tax. This information comes from data on the city's website.

"It is an extraordinarily beautiful neo-Gothic object, it is one of the symbols of the city," said the mayor of Velké Meziříčí, Alexandros Kaminaras (for Společně VM), to ČTK today. In his opinion, the city should strive for the synagogue to have a dignified use and to be in good technical condition. He noted that before the survey was conducted, there were concerns that the necessary investments could be significantly higher. He stated that he would try to organize the negotiation with the Jewish community by the end of the year or at the beginning of January.

The survey of the synagogue was conducted this year by the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Brno University of Technology. According to the city's press release, it turned out that the technical condition of the building is not bad, thanks in part to the fact that it does not leak. Among the fundamental proposed changes are the removal of the entrance staircase and the non-original ceiling that created the upper floor used for commercial purposes.

The New Synagogue was built from brick masonry between 1868 and 1870, and has been protected as a monument since 1999. According to municipal data, this synagogue last served its purpose in 1940, after which it became a warehouse for the German army. In 1992, the synagogue was returned to the Jewish Community of Brno in restitution, which has been unsuccessful in obtaining a grant for its repair. The building is rented out by its owners as a store for textiles and consumer goods.

Next to the New Synagogue, the Old Synagogue, dating from the late 17th century, has been preserved in Velké Meziříčí and has been renovated.