Kostnice u sv. Jakuba

"Beneath the ancient St. James Church in Brno lies the Kostnice, one of Europe’s largest ossuaries, where the remains of over 50,000 individuals are interred. Legend tells that in the 17th century, the church was built atop a burial site that had long been neglected. As the population grew and the city expanded, the need for more burial space became urgent. To accommodate this, bodies were exhumed from nearby cemeteries and transferred to the ossuary, creating a hauntingly beautiful resting place for the dead. As visitors descend into the Kostnice, they are greeted by a chilling yet mesmerizing sight: walls adorned with skulls and bones meticulously arranged in artistic patterns. This macabre display serves not only as a reminder of mortality but also as a reflection of the medieval beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife. The ossuary is believed to have been a site of solace for the living, where the bones of the deceased were reverently placed to honor their memory. Guided tours reveal the fascinating history of burial customs in Brno, offering insights into how communities once grappled with loss and the concept of life after death. A visit to the Kostnice is an unforgettable journey into the city’s rich and eerie past."

"Not commonly know at all, this ossuary is the 2nd biggest IN EUROPE with around 50 000 people buried here. Visitors can see the remnants all the way from the 13th century in this incredible, yet eerie, ossuary."