The church of St James was established within the city walls of Brno at the beginning of the 13th century, with an accompanying graveyard. Due the location the graveyard was restricted in size and as a result, common to many urban graveyards, bodies were buried on top of each other and allowed to rest there for a period of time typically 10-12 years to decay.
After this the bones were excavated and removed to an ossuary for long term storage and the graveyard burial space could be reused. Only the very wealthy were able to secure a permanent resting place in a graveyard.
The graveyard and ossuary continued in Brno, expanding where necessary during the Thirty Years war and epidemics of plague and cholera, storing the bones in the crypt under the church. Use of the graveyard ceased in 1784 when Joseph II issued a decree preventing burials in urban spaces. The graveyard was dissolved and resold and used for housing and other building.
The ossuary faded from memory and was only rediscovered in 2001 during construction work around the church. The corridors are 4m below street level and remains of about 50000 people were discovered.
The ossuary was opened as a public space in 2012 and the remains of about 10-15% of the original remains were returned – after disinfection and displayed. Some new passages were created to enable public access and whilst one area was left in original condition, the other areas were adapted. One area has been consecrated as a chapel and other areas also display bones.
Visited as part of Sub Brit trip to Brno 2025.
