Třebíč commemorates 20 years since UNESCO inscription
The Basilica of St. Procopius and the Jewish Quarter in Třebíč attract thousands of visitors every year to the picturesque town located at the foothills of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. Other than Jerusalem, Třebíč’s Jewish landmarks are the only ones that have been independently included on the UNESCO protection list.
The complex of the Jewish Quarter, the Jewish cemetery and the Basilica of St. Procopius in Třebíč is not only a unique architectural and urban monument, but also a rare example of the close coexistence of Christian and Jewish cultures, lasting from the Middle Ages until the 20th century.
Basilica of St. Procopius
The Basilica of St. Procopius, originally dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, was built in the 1330s as part of a Benedictine monastery. Originally a Romanesque basilica, it is one of the jewels of medieval architecture in Europe.
In spite of this, it was used at times as a warehouse, granary, stable or brewery. After the restoration carried out by the architect František Maxmilián Kaňka in the first half of the 18th century, it was dedicated to St. Procopius and has since served for its original purpose.
Jewish Quarter
Narrow alleys, public passages, spanning arches, romantic squares, porches and balconies – the Jewish quarter comprises 123 preserved buildings, including the Jewish town hall, the rabbinate, the alms-house, the hospital and the school.
But the real gems of the Jewish Quarter are the two synagogues. The Front Synagogue on Tiché náměstí serves today as the prayer room of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church. The Rear Synagogue was built around 1669. Its interior is decorated with Baroque paintings from the early 18th century, which are among the most beautiful in Moravia. It was used for religious purposes until the 1920s, when it served as a warehouse for leather hides and later, during communism, as a storehouse for fruit and vegetables. In 1989-1997 it underwent extensive reconstruction and today it is used to host exhibitions, concerts, and other events.
The Jewish Quarter includes a large cemetery with 11,000 graves and 3,000 stone tombstones.
The Třebíč Chateau also added to UNESCO list
In 2018 the Bahrain World Heritage Committee decided to extend the boundaries of Třebíč’s World Heritage Sites to include the castle building. Since then, Třebíč has been attracting even more tourists. Last year, some 43,000 people visited the picturesque Moravian town.
