The Heather Spring is adorned with the altar of Otmár Oliva for the future chapel

Olomouc - A pilgrimage site at the Vřesová Spring in the Jeseníky Mountains has been adorned with a stone altar created by sculptor Otmar Oliva starting today. It will serve pilgrims during summer masses. In the future, it is expected to become part of a restored chapel that the members of the Society for the Restoration of the Vřesová Spring pilgrimage site want to build alongside the defunct tourist lodge. The project has been in planning for three years, but they have encountered opposition from conservationists. Thus, the project must meet strict conditions under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) law.

The altar, made from local granite, was created by sculptor Oliva in collaboration with stonemason Petr Novák. “The altar will serve for pilgrimage masses, which take place here several times a year. Afterwards, it will be placed in the future church, which we believe will be successfully built. The altar is made from a block of granite. The top slab, adorned with a bronze ribbon, measures approximately 120 by 110 centimeters. The altar weighs nearly two tons,” said Jan Jemelka, a member of the society and an academic painter from Olomouc, to ČTK today. In addition to the altar, society members installed benches at the site depicting the floor plan of the church.

The representatives of the society aim to return part of the spiritual and cultural heritage to the Jeseníky region through the construction of the chapel and lodge at the Vřesová Spring. Their efforts have garnered the support of 5,200 people through a petition. The final shape of the buildings was designed by architect Miroslav Vochta. The lodge is expected to be built from original materials - wood and stone - supplemented by glass elements.

However, the plan has met with opposition from nature conservationists. They insist on preserving the valuable natural locality, which, according to them, would be disturbed by the construction. A year ago, the Ministry of the Environment decided that the proposal could have a significant impact on the surrounding nature and thus will be assessed under the EIA law. The project must include a biological survey of the Vřesová Spring area, which will include assessing the impact of the construction.

The preparation of the project has been prolonged due to strict regulations. “Work is currently underway. It should take until the end of the year; conditions must be met. If the proceedings go well, we could move forward,” Jemelka added.

The pilgrimage site at the Vřesová Spring has a long-standing tradition dating back to the 17th century. The chapel served the people until May 1946, and the dilapidated lodge was demolished 42 years later after unsuccessful attempts at its reconstruction. For many years, only a mound with a two-meter iron cross and a bronze relief of the Virgin Mary erected here in 1993 by sculptor Oliva and painter Jemelka reminds people of this long-standing tradition.