People can again this year in the Zlín Region explore sacred monuments with guides

Zlín – This year, people in the Zlin region can again visit more than 20 sacred monuments with guides. Until the end of September, the Open Gates project will make this possible again. Thanks to it, visitors will see churches, chapels, and other ecclesiastical buildings that are usually closed or only accessible to a limited extent. The project has launched its 17th season this year, reported Alena Železníková from the regional communication and external relations department in today's press release.

During the tourist season, one can visit sacred monuments throughout the Zlin region and learn about their history, architecture, and spiritual legacy. "We want to make valuable sacred monuments accessible to people during the tourist season and offer them free guide services. These unique places connect the history, culture, and spiritual traditions of the region," said the regional councilor for culture and tourism, Ivan Láska (ANO). According to him, there is a high interest among the public in exploring sacred monuments and the cultural heritage of the region.

People can visit, for example, the Church of the Holy Family in Luhačovice in Zlín, the pilgrimage church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Štípa in Zlín, the Church of St. Maurice in Kroměříž, or the Church of the Virgin Mary Snowy in Velké Karlovice in the Vsetín region. A complete list is available on the website.

The project involves more than fifty partners from churches, religious societies, municipalities, and other organizations. "The Zlin region coordinates the project, secures its funding and promotion, while the involved municipalities participate in co-financing the guiding services. The expert guarantor of the project is the Archdiocese of Olomouc," Železníková added.

Open Gates have been operating in the Zlin region since 2009. From the original nine churches that were visited by approximately 40,000 people in the first season, it has significantly expanded over time. Last year, it offered visitors 22 monuments, with 123 guides operating in them. Almost 90,000 visitors used their free services, of which about 10,000 were from abroad.