The completion of the chapel of St. John Paul II in Loučka near Vizovice will be supported by the region with 800,000 crowns

Zlín - The Zlín region will support the completion of the chapel of Saint John Paul II in Loučka near Vizovice in the Zlín region. The project, which originated from the initiative of local residents and their association, will receive 800,000 crowns. This was announced today by the spokesperson for the regional authority, Soňa Ličková. According to the plan, the chapel will open this year. The construction is primarily funded by donations, with an estimated total cost of over 20 million crowns.

The dominant feature of the chapel will be a carillon with 40 bronze bells, which is being created in a bell-making workshop in Brodek near Přerov. The carillon will be the largest of its kind in the Czech Republic. The regional grant is primarily intended for its production, transportation, and installation, as well as for other finishing works.

"The chapel in Loučka is a beautiful example of how a strong local story can grow into a project with regional significance. It combines quality architecture, cultural value, and the potential to attract visitors from across the country. Such initiatives are exactly what we want to support in the Zlín region – projects that give places new energy, strengthen their identity, and contribute to the long-term development of the region," said Deputy Governor Tomáš Chmela (STAN).

The author of the chapel’s design is architect Josef Pleskot. "He was captivated by the story and the place. He decided to design the chapel. He himself said that when he first arrived in Loučka, he heard the bells ringing. That is why bells are the central theme. We intend to install the bells in the chapel and open it to the public this year," said the mayor of Loučka, Pavel Maček (independent).

The idea for the construction of the chapel came from the residents of the village in 2011, who established the Association for the Construction of the Chapel in Loučka a year later. The foundation stone was blessed in 2013 at Velehrad during the national pilgrimage celebrating the 1150th anniversary of the arrival of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Moravia. Construction began in 2023, and finishing works are currently being carried out inside.

The chapel is a thank you for saving the village at the end of World War II when the area escaped complete burning by the Nazis. Several farm buildings burned down in Loučka, but no one died. "A commando came to Loučka to burn the village, but that did not happen. We perceive it as a miracle," said Maček.