Olomouc archdiocese claims chateau in Kroměříž

The Roman Catholic archdiocese of Olomouc has claimed the Baroque chateau in the nearby town of Kroměříž, a spokesman for the archdiocese said on Thursday. The chateau, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, served as a seat of the Olomouc bishops and archbishops until 1948 when it was confiscated by the communist authorities. The Archbishop of Olomouc, Jan Graubner, said if the chateau is returned to the church, it would remain open to the public. The claim comes as part of a controversial church property restitution deal; Czech churches and religious societies have until the end of the year to claim property confiscated by Czechoslovakia’s communist regime.

Author: Jan Richter