Neratov – rola społeczności lokalnej w rewaloryzacji kościoła pw. Wniebowzięcia NMP i rewitalizacji miejscowości

2026

3(87)

Joanna Leonowicz*

Neratov – the role of the local community in the revalorisation

of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

and the revitalisation of the village

DOI: 10.37190/arc260305

Published in open access. CC BY-NC license.

Abstract

The article examines the role of the local community in the revalorisation of a monument and the revitalisation of a locality, using Neratov as

a case study.

The discussed settlement is a small village on the Polish-Czech border, in an area originally inhabited primarily by German inhabitants. After

post-war expulsions, the region and the village remained degraded for several subsequent decades. Following the political transformation, grass-roots

initiatives led to the revitalisation of the village, associated with the revalorisation of the historic church.

The aim of the article was to present the history of the town’s revitalisation and the restoration of the church, with a special focus on the role of

the local community in these processes. The research included scientic literature, source literature, archival project documentation, as well as ocial

correspondence related to the project.

The conclusions conrm that the activity of the local community constitutes a signicant potential for the protection of local monuments, while

ongoing cooperation with heritage conservation specialists is also necessary. Similarly, grassroots-initiated revitalisation appears to be a benecial

way of acting.

Key words: Neratov, Czech Republic, revalorisation, revitalisation, community

Introduction

The article discusses the role of the local community in

the protection of historic monuments, using the example of

the Czech village of Neratov – a small settlement in the Or-

lické Mountains, near the border with Poland. The most im-

portant historic monument in the village was the Baroque

Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. 1945 saw the

abrupt depopulation of the region, due to the forced migra-

tion of local inhabitants who were mostly German. During

the decades that followed, Neratov and its church became

increasingly dilapidated. After 1990 and the change of the

political system, the reconstruction of the church and the

revitalisation of the village began.

Neratov is not the only place where monument restora-

tion or village development has been undertaken as a result

of a local community initiative. In this case, however, the

scale and multifaceted nature of the undertaking, together

with its long-term duration and ongoing development, make

it particularly worthy of analysis.

A study of this case, taking into account the role of the

local community in the revalorisation of the monument and

the revitalisation of the village, can be helpful in planning

this type of activity in other locations. This primarily con-

cerns plans for the restoration of locally signicant monu-

ments located in smaller centres. Especially in these cases,

the local community can become the main driving force be-

hind the revalorisation of the monument. Its restoration, in

turn, can contribute to revitalisation (Kubiszewska 2014).

State of research

The role of local communities in heritage protection has

gradually been recognised by international organisations,

nding its reection in various documents (Sroczyńska

2021). The potential of heritage as a catalyst for economic,

ORCID:

0009-0003-2662-2625. Doctoral School of the Krakow

University of Technology, Poland, e-mail: joanna.leonowicz@doktorant.

pk.edu.pl

52 Joanna Leonowicz

cultural, and social development has been gaining increas-

ing recognition and became the subject of diverse studies

(Murzyn-Kupisz, Hołuj and Działek 2022) aimed at de-

veloping optimal recommendations for Poland. Published

works to date discuss the role of conservation services and

social guardians of monuments in these processes (Hirsch,

Łozowska 2024; Fuglewicz 2016), as well as the roles of

individual actors in revitalisation (Ćwik 2020). Research-

ers described the use of contemporary means of expression

in adaptations of ruins (Kuśnierz-Krupa, Krupa 2006), as

well as controversies primarily concerning interventions in

sacred buildings (Szuta, Szczepański 2020). The church in

Neratov is part of the Baroque heritage of the region, whose

historical and cultural background was more broadly pre-

sented by Bogusław Czechowicz (2011).

The history of the church in Neratov, the context of its

creation, and its development up to 1945 are discussed in

the “Historie poutního kostela Nanebevzetí Panny Marie

v Neratově” [The History of the Pilgrimage Church of the

Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Neratov] (Oppeltová

1999). The post-war history of the monument and its res-

toration were subsequently examined in a master’s thesis

and, later, in a doctoral dissertation in theology (Šindar

2010). Other theological publications have focused on the

sacred landscape (Burda 2015).

The economic activities of the Neratov Association and

the role of volunteering were examined in a bachelor’s the-

sis in the eld of economics (Němec 2020).

In the literature on architecture and monument conser-

vation, Neratov has appeared in the context of securing

ruins (Molski 2020) and revitalising abandoned areas in

the Czech Republic (Kreisslová et al. 2025). An import-

ant source of information on the reconstruction process

and community involvement is also a long-form interview

with Fr. Josef Suchár, the leader of the revitalisation eorts

(Suchár, Kutil 2022).

Methods

The author’s intention was to determine, using Neratov

as an example, the role played by the local community in the

process of monument revalorisation and the revitalisation

of the village. To this end, literature research was conduct-

ed on the history of the local church, the settlement and the

region, primarily focusing on architecture and the cultural

landscape, as well as the history of monument preservation

in post-war Czechoslovakia. The study of Neratov’s com-

munity role in the revalorisation of the church was based on

the analysis of archival materials – project documentation

from 1992–2021 and correspondence between the parish

and public administration oces from 1955–2021, held in

the archives of the Národní památkový ústav in Pardubice

(eld branch in Josefov) and in the parish archive (on site

in Neratov).

The research focused on the functional program of ini-

tiatives carried out by the Neratov Association and their

impact on the cultural landscape. For this purpose, reports

from the Association for the years 2008–2025 were anal-

ysed, and during eld research conducted in March and Au-

gust 2025, photographic documentation was made and an

interview with Father Suchar was conducted. A published

interview with Fr. Suchar, along with statements from the

initiators of the restoration included in the same publication

(Suchár, Kutil 2022), was also used.

A brief history of the village and the church

Neratov, originally called Bärnwald, was never a large

settlement. Its peripheral location meant that the small

glassmaking settlement seemed destined to remain outside

the centre of major events.

However, in the mid-17

century, Bärnwald began to

gain importance. Its growing fame was associated with the

venerated miraculous statue of the Virgin Mary. Reports of

miraculous healings attracted crowds of pilgrims to the vil-

lage, too numerous for the small local church to accommo-

date. Therefore, between 1723 and 1733, a large pilgrimage

church was built, capable of accommodating up to 1,000

people. It was fully completed by 1749 (Oppeltová 1999).

Later, Rococo stairs were added in front of the entrance

The silhouette of the church became the most signicant

element of the local panorama (Fig. 1).

The authorship of the design is uncertain; its similarity

to the Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross in Litomyšl,

creator remained within his sphere of inuence (Oppeltová

1999, 28, 29; Krummholz 2015). The design may have

been by the mason Carl Antoni Reina, who began the con-

struction. After his death in an accident at the construction

site, the church was completed by Jacopo Andrea Carove

(Oppeltová 1999). A turning point in the history of the site

was the end of World War II – the church suered as a re-

sult of a re

, and the village was evacuated.

They were constructed in 1776 by the sculptor Franz Hornich

from Rothosse (Oppeltová 1999).

Oppeltová provides the Czech spelling of the name: Jakub Ondřej

Carowe.

On May 10, 1945, a soldier of the Red Army patrolling the area

red a grenade launcher at the roof of the church. The re damaged the

wooden roof, as well as the metal tower helmets and bells.

Fig. 1. Neratov before World War II

(author unknown, source: Neratov Association archive)

Il. 1. Neratov przed II wojną światową

(autor nieznany, źródło: archiwum Stowarzyszenia Neratov)

Neratov – the role of the local community in the revalorisation of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 53

The damage caused by the re in 1945 worsened in the

following years. The temporary repair was insucient to

prevent rainwater and snow from penetrating the building

and accumulating on the exposed vaults. In 1957, the vaults

began to gradually collapse. The church’s original furnish-

ings were also destroyed or removed from the interior and

relocated elsewhere. The miraculous statue of Our Lady of

Neratov disappeared during the rst expulsion of the Ger-

man population in 1945.

By the late 1980s, only the outer walls of the church re -

mained, stripped of plaster and posing a danger due to loose

stones and bricks. The interior, lled with debris and heaps

of earth overgrown with vegetation, was open to the sky,

while the vaults had completely collapsed (Fig. 2). The

Rococo gures of saints on the entrance stairs, the only el-

ement of the church listed in the heritage register

, were

moved to Skalka Castle near Dobruška, about 30 km from

Neratov. The planned demolition of the ruined church was

halted due to a lack of funds.

In 1987, Josef Suchár who was organising a local scout

camp, came across the ruins of the church. In his profes-

sional life, he worked as an electrical technician, while

during the summers he organised youth camps; he was also

a secretly ordained priest

. Moved by the sight of the dilap-

idated church, he decided to rebuild it when circumstances

permitted

. Following the Velvet Revolution and the emer-

gence of a new political reality, Father Suchár began the

restoration of both the church and the village. His eorts

proved successful, and today Neratov is a vibrant village

centred on the restored Church of the Assumption of the

Virgin Mary.

Revitalisation of Czech towns after 1990

– an outline of the topic

The renewal of Neratov after 1989 was not an isolat-

ed phenomenon. In Czechoslovakia, subsequently Czech

Republic, local authorities, conservation services, associa-

tions, and private owners sought to restore valuable historic

buildings that had been neglected during the post-war peri-

od. Abandoned churches in border areas were also part of

these eorts (ICOMOS Czech Republic 2001, 77)

Initiatives related to monuments were diverse in nature

– ranging from extra-systemic activities in Prague squats,

By virtue of the decision dated August 24, 1973.

He underwent formation under the guidance of another clandes-

tine priest, František Fráňa, and was ordained a priest in 1986 by the

secret bishop Stanislav Krátký. Paweł Boryszewski (2001) provides

a more extensive account of the activities of the underground Church

in Czechoslovakia.

The extensive surviving iconographic documentation attests to

the artistic value of the church; however, by the time the revitalisation

began, the building had been completely destroyed, and its architectural

merits would not have been apparent to a person without professional

training. The primary motivation was the desire to restore the celebration

of the liturgy.

The 2001 Report of the Czech National Committee of ICOMOS

lists several towns where the renovation of historic churches had begun,

including towns located in border areas, such as, Boletice, Malonty, Cet-

viny, Pohoří na Šumavě, Svěráz, Polná na Šumavě, Dobrá Voda, Bran-

dov, Březno (ICOMOS Czech Republic 2001, 77).

which often occupied historic buildings (the Ladronka or

Milada squats), to cooperation between public authorities

and private owners in the revitalisation of sites of particular

value

Borderland areas aected by post-war expulsions fos-

tered the establishment of settlements focused on organic

farming. In this way, settlement was re-established in the

abandoned village of Zastávka in the Rychlebské Moun-

tains in the Olomouc Region (Kreisslová 2025). Only a few

people lived there permanently, with their number increas-

ing seasonally during volunteer camps

In the case of areas inhabited by German populations

until 1945, initiatives concerning restoration often focused

not only on the degraded monument

but also on reconcil-

iation. For this reason, associations bringing together de-

scendants of former residents frequently became involved

in the restoration.

Church authorities, having regained the ability to op-

erate legally and openly, were also able to begin rescuing

damaged sacred buildings. However, this was associated

with various diculties concerning the method of opera-

tion and nancing. In the case of renovations of historic

buildings, conservation protection also posed a challenge.

Often, damaged churches were used only temporarily,

during cultural events or as settings for artistic installations

(Farnost Manětín 2026)

For example: the inscription of the South Bohemian village of

Holašovice on the UNESCO World Heritage List initiated the restoration

of the locality.

In the spring of 2026, the Brontosaurus Association, involved

with Zastávka, announced the completion of the project (Tom 2026).

For example, in the village of Skoky, located in the Karlovy Vary

Region, where the community sought to restore the local pilgrimage

church (Kreisslová 2025).

The placement of “ghost” sculptures in the Church of St. George

in Lukova contributed to the revival of tourism and more ecient fund-

Fig. 2. Neratov. Interior of the church in 1972

(photo by M. Kolegar, source: NPÚ ÚOP Pardubice Archive)

Il. 2. Neratov. Wnętrze kościoła w 1972 r.

(fot. M. Kolegar, źródło: Archiwum NPÚ ÚOP Pardubice)

54 Joanna Leonowicz

Revitalisation of Neratov

The Neratov renewal process did not escape the most

common diculties associated with revitalisation. In many

bor der localities, depopulation was a very signicant prob-

lem.

In 1990, after beginning his public pastoral ministry,

Father Suchár approached the competent bishop

to re-

quest permission to care for the parish and to rebuild the

destroyed church. The response to this request determined

the direction of the subsequent revitalisation of the place.

The bishop made his approval for reconstruction condition-

al on the presence of a community of faithful for whom the

renovated church would serve as a place of worship. At the

dawn of the 1990s, only two people

lived in the village.

The presence of a community of believers was a sine qua

non for consent to the rebuilding of the church. Thus, re-

populating the village became the fundamental challenge.

The rst inhabitants of the new Neratov came from cir-

cles with which Father Suchár had collaborated during his

time in the underground Church; even at that time, they

were engaged in supporting people with disabilities. The

political transformation of 1989 rekindled their hopes of

creating new opportunities for work in this eld. Father

Suchár inspired them with the idea of establishing a shared

home where residents would live and work together, while

also participating in the reconstruction of the church.

raising for the church’s restoration, although most of the funds came

from public sources (Farnost Manětín 2025).

At that time, the bishop of the Hradec Králové diocese was Karel

Otčenášek.

According to information provided by the Association, only two

people lived in the village, whereas data from the Czech Statistical Of-

ce indicate a population of nine. The discrepancy may result from dif-

ferences in methodology; in any case, both gures are signicantly lower

than the population recorded in 1930, which amounted to 378 people

(Růžková 2006).

A small group of people decided to move to the countryside

and, together with the priest, embark on this undertaking.

The repopulation of the village began with two families,

who, in addition to raising their own children, also cared for

several children in foster care. These included both healthy

children and those with disabilities. The way in which these

families lived and functioned together established the di-

rection for future revitalisation.

The new residents of Neratov sought to create a place

where healthy individuals and those in need of support

could live and work together. They were largely inspired

by the concept of L’Arche communities, that is, Christian

life communities where both healthy people and people

with disabilities live and work together. The rst of these

was established in the French village of Trosly in the mid-

1960s.

Over time, more communities were founded, and

today they can be found all over the world. Neratov did

not become part of this movement (L’Arche in the Czech

Republic appeared a few years later)

, but the leaders of

the renewal implemented similar forms of operation. In-

tegrated support, including both sheltered housing and

a workplace, proved to be a more eective method than

that provided by the state at the time (Biskup, Kotrusová

2002). Their greater eectiveness resulted both from the

therapeutic benets of living in a beautiful rural landscape,

in small quasi-family groups, and from the opportunities

for development through education, paid work, and learn-

ing to live in society.

In 1992, the initiators of the renewal established the

Ne ra tov Association – a civic and apolitical organisation

(Sdružení Neratov 2026, 3), with the aim of creating op-

portunities for sheltered living and employment in the vil-

lage

, as well as restoring Neratov as a place of pilgrim-

age. The Association purchased the former school building

for the rst residents. Later, sheltered apartments were es-

tablished in several buildings, providing living conditions

as close as possible to those of a family home

The need to create jobs has resulted in the development

of various economic initiatives in Neratov and the sur-

rounding towns. Companies in the catering and hotel indus-

try have been established, and people with disabilities work

in a ceramics and wickerwork plant, a gardening enterprise,

and in an electronic components assembly facility

. Hous-

These are Villa Valilla, operating since 1996 in Červený Újezd

near Votice (about 70 km south of Prague), and the Benediktus commu-

nity, founded in 2000 in Chotěboř (about 50 km south of Pardubice). In

both communities, sheltered housing is located in historic buildings reno-

vated by the community (Villa Valilla 2025; Benediktus n.d.).

In its early years, the Association sought to assist people with

disabilities as well as those who had diculty nding their place in social

life, including people who had been imprisoned, experienced homeless-

ness, or struggled with addiction. In later years, the focus was primarily

on people with disabilities.

The number of residents in sheltered housing is approximately 20

people (in 2024, 23 people: Sdružení Neratov 2026), while in 2021 Neratov

had 65 permanent residents. Since the beginning of the village’s revitaliza-

tion, its population has steadily increased: 9 people lived in the village in

1991, there were 36 in 2001, and 57 in 2011 (Český statistický úřad 2022).

By the end of 2025, the Association employed 221 people on

a permanent basis, of whom 164 were persons with disabilities or in

a dicult situation (Sdružení Neratov 2026, 14).

Fig. 3. Neratov. Church festival celebrations in 1991

(author unknown, source: NPÚ ÚOP Pardubice Archive)

Il. 3. Neratov. Uroczystości odpustowe w 1991 r.

(autor nieznany, źródło: Archiwum NPÚ ÚOP Pardubice)

Neratov – the role of the local community in the revalorisation of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 55

ing and workplaces are located in historical or new build-

ings, whose form, size, or location refer to the typical forms

of the region. This is due to landscape protection require-

ments

; the village is situated within the Orlické Hory Pro-

tected Landscape Area (CHKO Orlické hory n.d.)

The Association obtains a portion of its funding from

various forms of public assistance, while striving for max-

imum nancial self-suciency. Since the establishment of

the Association, a day care centre and a special school for

children have also been created.

The combination of therapeutic and commercial dimen-

sions also characterises cultural activities in Neratov. Since

2011, Menteatrál

has been held in Neratov – a festival

featuring theatre groups created by actors with disabilities.

Some performances take place in the church, which also

hosts concerts. Nevertheless, the primary function of the

church remains religious.

Work on restoring the usability of the church began be-

fore the Association was formed. The decision of its future

founders to move to Neratov, motivated by the pursuit of

rebuilding the church, can be considered the beginning of

the revitalisation process. For some participants, helping

to clear the area in front of the still-inaccessible ruins was

a form of voluntary work, while for others it served a thera-

peutic purpose. The patronal feast mass on August 15, 1990,

celebrated in the meadow in front of the church, marked

the return of the church to liturgical use. However, access

to the interior remained impossible for another year. It was

not until 1991 that the clearing of the ruins from rubble and

soil could begin. The work lasted several weeks and took

the form of a volunteer camp involving various groups of

participants: former and new residents of the village and

the surrounding area, their friends, descendants of former

German inhabitants of the village, and supporters of the

initiative. For some, rebuilding the church symbolised the

revival of the village and the restoration of a sense of agen-

cy over their own lives; for others, it represented the oppor-

tunity to profess their faith publicly once again.

The church returned to use as a parish church, but for

several subsequent years it remained without a roof. Masses

celebrated under the open sky, with only a makeshift cover-

ing over the altar, became a distinctive feature of this place.

It quickly became clear, however, that this solution was

unsuitable for regular church use. Rainfall and the need

to remove snow from the interior proved to be signicant

challenges for pastoral activities. Nevertheless, Neratov’s

renewal continued to attract new supporters, drawn both

by the community and the liturgy celebrated in the ruined

church. The rooess church once again became a place of

worship, providing a concise metaphor for the broader idea

of Neratov’s renewal. Covering the ruins while preserving

their openness to the sky would therefore combine practical

requirements with a symbolic dimension.

The design process lasted 13 years. The rst concepts

for the new roof were developed in 1992, while the nal

Guidelines for the protection of the cultural landscape within the

protected area in: (Třešňák 2021).

It was established in 1970 (CHKO Orlické hory n.d.).

https://www.menteatral.cz/. Accessed: November 7, 2025.

design, on which the roof in its present form was based,

was completed in 2005. The discussion about the new roof

began when the parish announced a competition for pro-

posals on how to cover the church. One of the requirements

was the incorporation of glazing. The competition entries

were meant to serve as inspiration and provide a starting

point for developing the detailed design.

All the projects met the requirement to incorporate glaz-

ing. Some of the proposed solutions went beyond purely

spatial interventions, developing the church’s program-

matic concept. Architect Jan Kratochvil’s project proposed

expanding the church space with a new underground sec-

tion

and covering the wall crown with a roof in the form

of a huge glass sphere (Fig. 4). According to this concept,

the church was to become an ecumenical centre, with the

under ground section housing a synagogue, the above-

ground part (the historic body of the church) serving Cath-

olics, and the glass sphere serving as a place of worship

for Protestants (Šindar 2010). Another concept presented in

the competition was submitted by the SIAL company from

Liberec, which involved covering the building with a glass

roof supported by a steel structure. It was well-received in

the professional community. The visualisation of the roof

with an elliptical outline oating above the crown of the

walls appeared on the cover of the October 1994 issue of

the Casabella magazine (Fig. 5). This concept was further

developed and rened over the following years. During the

design process, it became apparent that the need to account

for snow and wind loads under local conditions, as well

as the pressure exerted on the walls, combined with cost

considerations, signicantly limited the possibilities for

implementation. However, the main obstacle was that the

concept did not receive the full approval from the heritage

The concept envisaged the construction of an underground sec-

tion, which did not originally exist and does not exist at present either.

Fig. 4. Neratov. Model of the church covered with a glass dome

(photo by J. Kratochvil, source: NPÚ ÚOP Pardubice Archive)

Il. 4. Neratov. Model kościoła przekrytego szklaną kulą

(fot. J. Kratochvil, źródło: Archiwum NPÚ ÚOP Pardubice)

56 Joanna Leonowicz

authorities (Statní památkový ústav v Pardubicích 2002).

Since 1992, the church had been listed in the register of

monuments (Památkovy katalog 2025)

. Conservation

authorities advocated, at a minimum, for preserving the

historical shape of the roof. Objections to excessive inter-

vention in the church’s structure, together with the need to

abandon solutions that were too costly in terms of materials

or execution (the Association aimed to carry out as much of

the work as possible through self-managed construction),

eliminated certain design solutions. Similarly, the wooden

truss design developed in 2005 using traditional carpentry

techniques

could not be implemented due to nancial

constraints.

During consultations with conservation services

a project was developed that combined the demands of the

Association and the conservation authorities. Its authors

were Eng. Jiří Starý and Eng. Petr Dostál (Národní památ-

kový ústav 2005). In 2006, the church regained a roof iden-

tical in shape to the historic one (Figs. 6, 7), with glazing

in the form of a cross at the ridge area (Fig. 8). Initially,

Decision of June 5, 1992, registering the church on the list of

cultural monuments under no. 10470/6-5561.

Authored by carpenter Petr Růžička (Šindar 2010).

The legal system of monument protection in the Czech Republic

assumes a signicant advisory/consultative participation in the design

process (for more details: Dąbkowska 2016).

the glazing of part of the roof was designed as a temporary

solution, with the possibility of replacing the glass panels

with a permanent covering at a later stage. However, the

temporary concept ultimately became the nal solution. In

2019, leaks appeared, prompting repairs to the roof cover-

ing, together with adjustments to some of the ventilation

and condensation drainage systems

. However, these in-

terventions were minor. The Baroque church crowned with

a glass roof represented the rst realisation of its kind in the

Czech Republic, inspiring several subsequent projects of

a similar nature

. The decision regarding the method

of re-roong the church largely determined the character

of the interior, in which it was also decided not to introduce

reconstructed elements. Due to nancial constraints, the

nave walls were left unnished rather than being plastered.

The reconstruction of the furnishings or the introduction

of elements preserved from the period of the church’s con-

struction were also not undertaken

These solutions also had symbolic signicance. The

rough, irregular wall made of brick and stone, according to

Father Suchár, was meant to represent the community that

restored it. The church building here represents the Church

– a community composed of individuals who are disabled

and vulnerable, yet capable of contributing to a greater

whole. The light entering through the roof glazing, in turn,

signies Christ coming into human imperfection. The theo-

logical narrative of the “disabled church (Church)” reso-

nates with the story of the history and historical upheavals

of the village, as well as with its current program of sup-

porting people with disabilities

The original title of the church, Assumption of the Bless-

ed Virgin Mary, remains unchanged; however, the narra-

tive associated with it employs contemporary means of

expression. Almost all of the church’s furnishings are mod-

ern. The tabernacle, altar, processional cross, and seating

for the celebrant and liturgical ministers were designed by

the Brno-based artist Dr. Karel Rechlík. He is also the cre-

ator of the spatial composition above the presbytery, in the

place of the former altar wall. Dedicated to the patroness

of the church, the composition, entitled “On the Wings of

Angels”, depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary and refers to the

original lost devotional image. It is a metal-cut representa-

tion of Mary, modelled on a historical engraving depicting

the miraculous statue. The Most Holy Virgin is surrounded

by glass forms – “angels” oating around her. The chang-

ing daylight entering through the glazed ridge causes the

The roof repair and the design of alternative solutions were car-

ried out by the company Sipral.

The new roofs of the Church of St. Nicholas in Petrovic (located

in the Ústí region, near the German border) and the Chapel of St. Anna

in Horní Údolí (which is part of the town of Zlaté Hory) were inspired

by the solution from Neratov.

An exception is the front elevation with its towers. It was in-

tended to be the only element of the church that was reconstructed to

match the appearance of the original. The plasterwork and its colours

were restored, the towers regained their copper spires, the clock was

restored, and new bells were installed. The parish attempted to recover

the sculptures that decorated the entrance stairs, but without success. By

court ruling, the sculptures are to remain in their current location.

Fr. Suchár spoke about the symbolism of the church, among other

things, in: (Suchár, Kutil 2022, 72, 73).

Fig. 5. Cover of Casabella No. 616 showing a visualisation

of the roof project of the church’s nave by SIAL company

(source: https://casabellaweb.eu/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/616-cp.jpg;

accessed: August 10, 2026)

Il. 5. Okładka nr. 616 czasopisma Casabella przedstawiająca

wizualizację projektu zadaszenia korpusu kościoła autorstwa firmy SIAL

(źródło: https://casabellaweb.eu/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/616-cp.jpg;

data dostępu: 10 sierpnia 2026)

Neratov – the role of the local community in the revalorisation of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 57

The pursuit of self-suciency to the greatest extent pos-

sible appears to be a signicant factor in long-term success.

The management strategy was based on the diversication

of activities. On the one hand, this provided greater exi-

bility in employing people with disabilities, which was im-

portant for therapeutic reasons; on the other, it increased

nancial resilience in the face of economic crises. The

stability of the undertaking is further enhanced by the fact

that, despite the region and locality being popular tourist

destinations, it is not solely dependent on this sector of the

economy. At the same time, access to public support has

enabled a broader range of activities.

The process of restoring the church was characterised by

similar features: it was initiated by the community, imple-

mented in stages, and involved the community participat-

ing as fully as possible in the work.

Conservation protection and the resulting requirement

to restore the church’s historical silhouette in the landscape

positively inuenced the nal form of the project. The cur-

appearance of the composition to vary depending on the

time of day, season, or weather conditions (Fig. 9).

Summary

The renewal of Neratov is progressing steadily. The

church is gradually acquiring additional furnishings (an

organ was installed in 2025), while new support facilities

are being established in the village. Despite these devel-

opments, Neratov retains the intimate character of a small

mountain settlement.

The initiators of the renewal developed their own meth-

ods of operation and implemented them in their place of

residence. This provided the opportunity to adapt the meth-

ods and scope of initiatives to the current situation, as well

as to introduce adjustments over time. Revitalisation, car-

ried out in a highly exible manner and divided into numer-

ous smaller projects, has proven to be the optimal approach

in this case.

Fig. 6. Neratov.

View of the church from the east

(photo by P. Leonowicz, 2025)

Il. 6. Neratov. Widok kościoła

od strony wschodniej

(fot. P. Leonowicz, 2025)

Fig. 7. Neratov.

View of the church from

the northwest

(photo by J. Leonowicz, 2024)

Il. 7. Neratov. Widok kościoła

od strony północno-zachodniej

(fot. J. Leonowicz, 2024)

58 Joanna Leonowicz

rent appearance of the roof, while respecting conservation

requirements, remains a contemporary and striking solu-

tion, while also preserving the symbolism associated with

the most recent history of the church. The restored church

attracts numerous visitors, which contributes to the long

term sustainability of the building.

An essential element of success appears to be the re-

newal program and the manner of its implementation. Lo-

cating sheltered housing and workplaces suitable for their

residents in small buildings of traditional form has proven

to be an appropriate solution, both for therapeutic reasons

and due to landscape protection requirements. The idea of

reviving the pilgrimage centre while simultaneously sup-

porting people with disabilities attracts numerous support-

ers, who provide various forms of assistance, ranging from

sponsorship activities to volunteer work

. It also inspires

subsequent creators who, through their activities, contrib-

ute to the cause. This concentration of successive initiatives

conrms the importance of the heritage community in pro-

tecting the site.

Over the course of 30 years of its existence, the Nera-

tov Association has developed an eective method for op-

erating as a social enterprise. At present, its activities are

managed by 24 people

, among whom the initiator of the

renewal, pastor and priest, Fr. Josef Suchár

, plays a par-

ticularly signicant role. His vision of the “reconstruction

of two temples”

in which the renewal of the church and

the village proceeds simultaneously and symbiotically, has

contributed to the current ourishing of the site. The or-

ganisation of cultural events in the church contributes to

its maintenance; however, its primary purpose remains its

original sacred function (Fig. 9). The continued fullment

of this function is closely linked to the presence of the pas-

tor. The long-standing shortage of priests in the Czech Re-

public

means that Fr. Suchár is the only priest serving

the parish. Consequently, when considering the future of

the revitalisation process and the identity of the place, the

question of his successor may prove to be one of the most

important issues.

In August 2025, the church received new liturgical vessels de-

signed specically for this place. Their creator is the artist Leona Marie

Špačková. The glass liturgical vessels refer to the region’s oldest tradi-

tion.

The supervisory board consists of 7 members, the audit com-

mittee – 3, and the remaining persons are engaged in managing various

initiatives (Sdružení Neratov 2026).

For his activities, Fr. Suchár was awarded the Silver Commem-

orative Medal of the Senate (2015) and the Order of Tomáš Garrigue

Masaryk, 4

Class (2024).

The words of the Song of Neratov written by him: Pomoz nám

prosím, naše milá Paní. postavit z trosek zas krásný chrám. Ten první

z kamene, ten druhý v srdcích. tak jak si přeje Tvůj Syn – Král [Please

help us, our dear Lady, to rebuild a beautiful church from the ruins.

The rst from stone, the second in hearts. Just as Your Son – the King

– wishes] can be considered a summary of the revitalisation program.

Due to a shortage of priests, the Archbishop of the Olomouc Di-

ocese, His Excellency Josef Nuzík, issued a decree exempting the faith-

ful from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass in the absence of priests.

The decree has been temporarily enacted for the period from July 1 to

December 31, 2025 (Olomoucká Arcidiecéze 2025).

Fig. 8. Neratov. Church roof (photo by J. Leonowicz, 2024)

Il. 8. Neratov. Dach kościoła (fot. J. Leonowicz, 2024)

Fig. 9. Neratov. Angelus prayer in the church

(photo by J. Leonowicz, 2025)

Il. 9. Neratov. Modlitwa Anioł Pański w kościele

(fot. J. Leonowicz, 2025)

Neratov – the role of the local community in the revalorisation of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 59

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60 Joanna Leonowicz

Streszczenie

Neratov – rola społeczności lokalnej w rewaloryzacji kościoła pw. Wniebowzięcia NMP i rewitalizacji miejscowości

Tematem artykułu jest rola społeczności lokalnej w rewaloryzacji zabytku oraz rewitalizacji miejscowości na przykładzie studium przypadku

Neratova. Omawiana miejscowość jest niewielką wsią na pograniczu polsko-czeskim, na obszarze pierwotnie zamieszkanym przede wszystkim przez

ludność niemiecką. Po powojennych wysiedleniach region i wieś pozostały zdegradowane przez kilka kolejnych dekad. Po przewrocie ustrojowym

w wyniku inicjatyw oddolnych doszło do rewitalizacji wsi powiązanej z rewaloryzacją zabytkowego kościoła.

Celem autorki artykułu było przedstawienie historii rewitalizacji miejscowości oraz rewaloryzacji świątyni, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem roli

społeczności lokalnej w tych procesach.

Badania obejmowały literaturę przedmiotu, archiwalną dokumentację projektową, a także korespondencję urzędową dotyczącą projektu oraz bada-

nia terenowe.

Na podstawie przeprowadzonych analiz można potwierdzić, że aktywność społeczności lokalnej stanowi znaczny potencjał dla ochrony lokalnych

zabytków, jednocześnie konieczna jest stała współpraca ze specjalistami w zakresie ochrony dziedzictwa. Również rewitalizacja inicjowana oddolnie

wydaje się korzystnym sposobem działania.

Słowa kluczowe: Neratov, Czechy, rewaloryzacja, rewitalizacja, społeczność

Neratov – rola społeczności lokalnej w rewaloryzacji kościoła pw. Wniebowzięcia NMP i rewitalizacji miejscowości

Joanna Leonowicz

doi:10.37190/arc260305

Streszczenie