Dead needs tourists:
The Capuchin tomb is being repaired, it is necessary to hurry because of the dead
yesterday 15:15 – Brno
Vladimír Klepáč
The Capuchin Crypt, one of the largest and oldest tourist attractions in Brno, is now closed for reconstruction. The legendary commander of the Pandurs from the time of Empress Maria Theresa, Baron František Trenck (1711–1749), is laid to rest there with twenty-four monks.
Photo: archive of the Capuchin Crypt
The Capuchin crypt in Brno is being repaired.
Článek
The unique microclimate of the tomb has preserved the remains of the friars in incredibly good condition for centuries. In order for this to remain the case, the work must be completed by mid-May this year at the latest.
The dead need tourists.
Crowds of visitors shape the unique microclimate of the tomb
Kateřina Hlouchová, head of the exhibition, Capuchin crypt
"The crowds of visitors create the unique microclimate of the tomb. Since the mid-19th century, when it was opened to the public, thousands of people have been visiting the tomb every summer. Their movement helps the air circulate underground and maintain a stable temperature of around ten degrees Celsius," explained Kateřina Hlouchová, head of the exhibition.
Archaeologists have discovered exceptionally well-preserved remains of a medieval house in the Sázava Monastery
She emphasized that this regime must be observed in order to preserve the remains, regardless of the technical complexity of the work.
The Baron is in good condition
In the tomb, Baron Trenck is buried in a separate hall in his coffin. Fifteen more deceased are buried in baroque coffins in two rooms. A unique feature is the crypt, in which the remains of twenty-four monks buried in the 17th and 18th centuries lie directly on the compacted ground covered with sand. These cannot be moved, they could fall apart.
Therefore, the area with the monks will remain untouched and will be hermetically sealed for the duration of the work. Work will take place in another part of the tomb.
The repair is not only technically but also logistically challenging. The experts will first close the crypt with the monks and then carry the coffins with the dead to the hall to Baron Trenck, which is in good condition and will not be repaired. This area will be separated from the part of the tomb in which the work will be carried out. It will be the largest reconstruction of this famous tomb in modern history.
Italian stone flooring
The aim of the work is to modify half of the tomb so that it is better able to resist moisture. The ceramic tiles from the 1990s will be removed. The original burnt brick surface will not be restored. Experts will pave the space with stone brought from Italy, which is more durable than bricks and more breathable than ceramics. Ventilation channels will be created under the floor.
Plaster repairs are also planned. Modern materials will be used to better resist moisture. The work is an imaginary game of time – the administration of the tomb needs to return the remains and the regime of the crypt to its original state, but on the other hand, the solidification of the concrete and the materials used cannot be rushed.
Trenck the Devil Apparently Drank Himself to Death
The reconstruction will cost two million crowns. The tomb is expected to be opened on May 15. It is visited by about 35,000 people a year, with about half of them being tourists from all over the world.
The attraction for them is not only the sight of buried monks, many of whom look as if they were just sleeping after centuries, but also the legendary Baron Trenck. During his lifetime, thanks to his fierce nature, wild appearance, burly physique and incredible courage on the battlefield, he earned the nickname Devil. He became the most famous prisoner of Brno's Špilberk Castle. There he is said to have reformed, and that is why he let himself be buried in the crypt with simple monks. The Capuchins take care of it to this day.