Brno Ossuary
Encyclopedia
Brno Ossuary is an underground ossuary
in Brno
, Czech Republic
. It was rediscovered in 2001 in the historical centre of the city, partially under the Church of St. James
. It is estimated that the ossuary holds the remains of over 50 thousand people which makes it the second-largest ossuary in Europe, after the Catacombs of Paris
. The ossuary was founded in the 17th century, and was expanded in the 18th century. Currently it's not opened to public but it's planned to open it for visitors in 2012.
Ossuary
An ossuary is a chest, building, well, or site made to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains. They are frequently used where burial space is scarce. A body is first buried in a temporary grave, then after some years the skeletal remains are removed and placed in an ossuary...
in Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. It was rediscovered in 2001 in the historical centre of the city, partially under the Church of St. James
Church of St. James (Brno)
The Church of St. James in Brno, Czech Republic is a historic church.The history of the church dates back to the 13th century. In 1995 it was designated National Cultural Landmark...
. It is estimated that the ossuary holds the remains of over 50 thousand people which makes it the second-largest ossuary in Europe, after the Catacombs of Paris
Catacombs of Paris
The Catacombs of Paris or Catacombes de Paris are an underground ossuary in Paris, France. Located south of the former city gate , the ossuary holds the remains of about 6 million people and fills a renovated section of caverns and tunnels that are the remains of Paris' stone mines...
. The ossuary was founded in the 17th century, and was expanded in the 18th century. Currently it's not opened to public but it's planned to open it for visitors in 2012.