Non-Profit Cultural Heritage Preservation

During our acquisition activities, we encountered several small yet historically valuable sacral buildings whose preservation did not promise economic return but carried deeper meaning. We could not reconcile ourselves with the idea of their disappearance and so chose to devote our time and care to their restoration. The first of these projects was a small chapel that once served as an important pilgrimage site. Its origins date back to 1750, when Ferdinand Moritz von Mosern, a landowner from Hazlov, commissioned the construction of a chapel at a site of spiritual significance, where a devotional image of the miller Zeidler of Teichmühle had been hung on a tree. Contributions from travelers and coachmen, who donated funds into a collection box, made the construction possible.

Our second charitable project began in 2007 with the purchase of an Evangelical church from the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren. The Neo-Gothic church, built in 1907 and financed largely by locals, served its purpose until 1955. After the final service, the building gradually deteriorated and was later used as a storage facility.

The third initiative within this category was the creation of the educational trail In the Footsteps of Reconciliation Crosses, intended to promote visitor engagement in the area and raise public awareness of the historical significance of medieval reconciliation crosses and their place within the Czech landscape.

In 2018, we began restoring the chapel, of which only fragments of masonry had remained. After clearing debris and removing damaged structures, the walls were reinforced, the gable and entrance portal reconstructed, and a new roof with traditional clay tiles installed. In 2022, the restoration was completed with roof repairs, new plasterwork, terracotta flooring, and the treatment of wooden elements.

The chapel was thus preserved and returned to its original appearance. The church was acquired in 2007 from the parish congregation in Cheb. Initial stabilization works began in 2009, including roof repairs, new gutters, site clearance, landscaping, and fencing. Restoration efforts continued in 2022, when sheet metal roofing elements were added, the ridge tiles replaced, downspouts repaired, and damaged plaster stabilized. These steps halted further deterioration and protected the church from continued decay. Our goal is for the church to once again become a place of gathering and community benefit. In 2025, Easter markets and a wedding ceremony were held on the premises, both being a meaningful sign that life and purpose are gradually returning to the building.

In 2015, we established the educational trail In the Footsteps of Reconciliation Crosses, designed to commemorate the history of these unique stone monuments and support local tourism around the village of Polná. The trail includes four stations that serve primarily as rest areas with seating, offering space for reflection. The project connects nature, history, and community, helping visitors rediscover stories deeply rooted in the landscape.