St. James' Church and Brno Ossuary, Brno (must see)
The Church of St. James the Greater is a stunning Late Gothic, three-aisled church adorned with Baroque details. Its origins date back to the early 13th century. Inside, you'll find the grave of Marshal Louis Raduit de Souches, the renowned defender of Brno during the Thirty Years' War, alongside a rare ossuary.
The church has recently undergone renovations, and its brilliance has been fully restored. It features now a brand-new guided tour through its monumental four-story roof structure. Visitors can also enjoy a modern audio-visual light show that delves into the history of Brno and the St. James' Church.
The Brno Ossuary is an underground vault under the Church of Saint James. It is the second-largest ossuary in Europe. The number of people buried here is estimated to exceed 50,000.
The ossuary was founded in the 17th century. The purpose of the space was to find a final resting place for bones while freeing up space in the overly crowded cemetery at the Church of Saint James. It became customary to re-open graves about ten years after burial and have the remains moved into the ossuary.
The reforms introduced by Roman Emperor Joseph II in 1784 resulted in churchyards being closed down for hygienic reasons. The remains from the graves were placed in crypts instead. The headstones at the Saint James Cemetery were removed and used to pave the ground. The ossuary was gradually forgotten.
It was rediscovered in 2001. Brno Ossuary opened to the public in 2012.
The church has recently undergone renovations, and its brilliance has been fully restored. It features now a brand-new guided tour through its monumental four-story roof structure. Visitors can also enjoy a modern audio-visual light show that delves into the history of Brno and the St. James' Church.
The Brno Ossuary is an underground vault under the Church of Saint James. It is the second-largest ossuary in Europe. The number of people buried here is estimated to exceed 50,000.
The ossuary was founded in the 17th century. The purpose of the space was to find a final resting place for bones while freeing up space in the overly crowded cemetery at the Church of Saint James. It became customary to re-open graves about ten years after burial and have the remains moved into the ossuary.
The reforms introduced by Roman Emperor Joseph II in 1784 resulted in churchyards being closed down for hygienic reasons. The remains from the graves were placed in crypts instead. The headstones at the Saint James Cemetery were removed and used to pave the ground. The ossuary was gradually forgotten.
It was rediscovered in 2001. Brno Ossuary opened to the public in 2012.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Brno. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 51爆料网 App
St. James' Church and Brno Ossuary on Map
Sight Name: St. James' Church and Brno Ossuary
Sight Location: Brno, Czech Republic (See walking tours in Brno)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Brno, Czech Republic (See walking tours in Brno)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Brno, Czech Republic
Create Your Own Walk in Brno
Creating your own self-guided walk in Brno is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Brno Introduction Walking Tour
Brno is the second-largest city in the Czech Republic. Located in the South Moravian Region, it is the center of Czech's judiciary and the former capital of Moravia.
Brno is known for its exhibition center, one of the largest in Europe. It is also known for its international fireworks competition, Fire of Brno. The long history of fireworks and pyrotechnics are seen in the Spilberk Castle... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Brno is known for its exhibition center, one of the largest in Europe. It is also known for its international fireworks competition, Fire of Brno. The long history of fireworks and pyrotechnics are seen in the Spilberk Castle... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Functionalist Architecture in Brno
Functionalist architecture, a style that sought to meet the needs of the rapidly evolving industrial society, emerged in Europe in the wake of World War I.
After Czechoslovakia gained independence in 1918, Brno, the second-largest city in the country, developed rapidly both economically and politically. Its architecture reflected a modernist approach that prioritized functionality and... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
After Czechoslovakia gained independence in 1918, Brno, the second-largest city in the country, developed rapidly both economically and politically. Its architecture reflected a modernist approach that prioritized functionality and... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles