1. 11 and 2. 11. from 18.00
Ossuary at the Church of St James
The number of discovered remains makes it the second largest in Europe, right behind the catacombs of Paris
Situated beneath St James’ Church, the ossuary is a place of remembrance with a mystical atmosphere. It was used for interring the skeletal remains of graves, which were then freed up to bury others.
The number of people buried here is estimated to exceed 50,000. There was a churchyard at the Church of St James (the site is now Jakubské náměstí, or St James Square) as early as the beginning of the 13th century. Like many other churchyards, its establishment within the city walls later prevented its extension. The churchyard capacity quickly became insufficient for the needs of the growing city, and a special system of burial had to be adopted in which graves were opened 10 to 12 years after burial and the remnants were removed to make room for another body in the grave.
The remnants from the original graves were moved to special underground areas, called ossuaries. These also quickly filled up due to frequent plague and cholera epidemics. The reforms introduced by Joseph II in 1784 resulted in churchyards being closed down for hygienic reasons. The remnants from the graves were moved into a crypt, the churchyard wall was torn down, the area around the church was paved with the former headstones, and the ossuary was gradually forgotten.
Today, the Ossuary at the Church of St James is an attraction for tourists as well as a place of reverence. The tour is very impressive thanks in part to music composed especially for this place.
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This website is operated by © TIC BRNO, p. o. Radnická 365/2, 602 00 Brno
Phone: +420 542 427 150 | Email: info@ticbrno.cz
TIC BRNO is a public-benefit corporation and is financially supported by the statutory city of Brno.
We recommend making a reservation in advance by calling +420 515 919 793 or by e-mail: kostnice@ticbrno.cz. For vouchers with a discount (seniors, students under 25, children and ZPT), proof of entitlement to the discount must be provided at the Underground ticket office. The voucher for family admission is valid for 2 adults and 2 children under 15 years of age. The voucher is valid only once and for the Underground to which it is purchased. The voucher cannot be exchanged for cash or refunded.
We recommend making a reservation in advance by calling +420 515 919 793 or by e-mail: kostnice@ticbrno.cz. For vouchers with a discount (seniors, students under 25, children and ZPT), proof of entitlement to the discount must be provided at the Underground ticket office. The voucher for family admission is valid for 2 adults and 2 children under 15 years of age. The voucher is valid only once and for the Underground to which it is purchased. The voucher cannot be exchanged for cash or refunded.
The voucher is valid for 6 months from the date of purchase. We recommend making a reservation in advance by calling 542 212 892 or by e-mail: labyrint@ticbrno.cz. For vouchers with a discount (seniors, students under 26, children and ZPT), proof of entitlement to the discount must be provided at the underground ticket office. The family voucher is valid for 2 adults and 2 children under 15 years of age. The voucher is valid only once and for the Underground to which it is purchased. The voucher cannot be exchanged for cash or refunded.
