Žďár n. S. is negotiating with the region and the National Heritage Institute on how to improve the facilities at Zelená hora

Žďár nad Sázavou - The Žďár Town Hall wants to work with the church, the region, and heritage experts to find a way to improve the facilities at Zelená hora. The pilgrimage site, the work of architect Jan Blažej Santini Aichel, attracts about 30,000 tourists each year. There are no toilets or a place for guides, and the parking is insufficient. The city has already initiated broader cooperation to address the situation. The Žďár council approved a memorandum on Monday, said Deputy Mayor Josef Klement (KDU-ČSL) to journalists today.

The initiative will connect the Žďár parish, which manages the monument, the town hall, the region, the National Heritage Institute, and the Brno diocese. "We know that it is a truly protected national monument, a UNESCO site, and it will not be easy to approach this unilaterally," Klement said. The discussions will involve the potential location of new construction, its size, and financing.

Since last year, the parish has been carrying out extensive repairs on the church at Zelená hora, funded by European funds. However, according to priest Vladimír Vojtěch Záleský, subsidies cannot be drawn for construction outside the protected site, and nothing may be built within the site.

The land surrounding the pilgrimage site belongs to the city and private owners. "We, as a city, would like to build the facilities at least in close proximity," said Klement. He noted that an architect has already prepared a study of a possible solution, and there are also student projects. "It ranges from really modest spaces with just necessary facilities to some more grandiose solutions with multiple kiosks and a screening room," he stated. Possible costs or a construction timeline have not yet been determined, according to him.

The restoration of the Church of St. John of Nepomuk, costing around 45 million crowns, is being subsidized by the union and is expected to last until 2020. In the initial stage last year, workers repaired about a third of the church's facade, and this year they should complete the repairs of the outdoor plaster with the replacement of some windows. Work, according to Záleský, will begin as soon as the weather permits. The project also includes work on the interior. The monument is accessible during the designated time even during repairs, with masses held there on Saturdays.