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.