Třebíč is the town of uncommon religious sights; the most famous is the Roman-Gothic Basilica of St.Procope. The abbot cathedral, originally dedicated to the Virgin Mary, was constructed since the first half of the 13th century as a part of the Benedictine monastery, which was originated in 1101 in Třebíč. The basilica suffered a lot of damage, when the Hungarian army of Matyas Corvine besieged it in 1468. For more than two hundred years it was used as a stable, granary and a bier stock. The architect Kanka realized its renovation in 1725-1731 and after that the basilica was consecrated and used for sacral purposes again. The most precious parts of the basilica are the crypt with the original seven hundred years old
timbering of the ceiling, the presbytery vaulted by the cross stone vault, the rose window in the eastern part of the apse, and the northern portal of a unique stone-cutting work. In 1924-35 Kamil Hilbert created the recent look of the basilica interior. The West-Bohemian Museum with rich collections of regional cultural objects has been established there now.
In the past Třebíč used to belong to the important centres of Jewish culture in Moravia. The uniquely preserved Jewish Town remains the witness of coexistence of the Jews and the Christians, which ended by the Nazi holocaust during the World War II. The unique Jewish quarter, with dense housing, narrow isles, dark corners, vaulted passages and romantic little squares includes more than 120 residential houses. Besides them there are the buildings of former Jewish institutions – e.g. the Town Hall, the school, the rabbinate, and the poorhouse. The Back Synagogue was completely reconstructed. In its interior, which is decorated with unique wall paintings from the early 18th century, there is the exposition of the history of the former ghetto. Various cultural events take place here – exhibitions, concerts, meetings and seminaries. In the Front Synagogue there is the house prayer of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church.
The original Jewish cemetery, since the Middle Ages situated near the Benedictine monastery, was destroyed during the besiege of the town in 1468 and in the 17th century it was moved to the northern slope of the Hradek hill. There are about three thousand tombstones (the eldest from the year 1625) situated in a park with tall trees and mysterious atmosphere. A part of the cemetery is the ceremonial hall built in 1903 with uniquely preserved interior. Until now the funeral ceremonies according to the old Jewish tradition take place here. In the 80ies of the 20th century there was a threat of the cemetery-clearance, but finally it was successfully saved and restored. These days it is one of the best-preserved and best-kept Jewish cemeteries in the Czech Republic.
