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2009 Czech Heritage Society Grantee Profile: The Františkov chapel

07/15/2009

Distinguished by its beautiful stone portal, the chapel in Františkov (in German, "Franzberg”) dates back to 1891. The chapel was constructed by German settlers who established the town in 1798 in the present-day Jeseník district of northern Moravia. Following the post-World War Two expulsion of the community’s German residents, the chapel was eventually abandoned. This led to the collapse of its roof, and the growth of a tree in the middle of the chapel which, by 2007, exceeded the height of the chapel tower itself!

In 2007, the Jesenická Mountain Club Civic Association launched the restoration of the chapel, facilitated by a gift from the local Roman Catholic parish, as well as wider support from several local companies, the Civic Forum Foundation, local volunteers, and the village. The first stage of reconstruction took place under this joint effort, including the removal of trees and decade-old debris in the vicinity of the chapel, the installation of a new roof and new doors, and the restoration of the original chapel bell.

A grant of 50,000 CZK from the Via Czech Heritage Society now allows the chapel to continue into a second phase of reconstruction. Continued work to the chapel’s full exterior façade and chapel tower brings this monument one step closer to a restoration of its former glory.

The original chapel

The tree that grew in the middle of the abandoned chapel

The chapel with a collapsed roof and damaged façade

Construction of a new roof for the chapel and chapel tower was completed under the first phase of restoration