The Catholic cemetery in Zloczów is located in the southern part of the city. It is a vast necropolis with a partially preserved spatial layout. Its history dates back to the end of the 18th century, when the Austrian authorities prohibited burying people in old cemeteries located in towns around temples.

The Zloccz cemetery is very interesting from an artistic point of view. Objects made in the most famous workshops of that time, working for the Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv, such as the works of L. Schimser and H. Périer.

Work carried out in 2024

In 2024, two historic tombstones underwent conservation:

- Agnes Lewicki's (1812-1889) and Leopold Lewicki's (1819-1909) tombstone - the memorial is marked by a figure of the Virgin Mary with outstretched arms, standing on a hemisphere with a serpent underfoot, placed on a plinth. The monument is made entirely of limestone.

The object was assessed as stable, but a slight deviation from the vertical axis was found. The entire structure was covered by a layer of weathering, mosses, algae and lichen. The figure was preserved with significant losses of sculptural form and far-reaching granular disintegration. In addition, the entire surface of the sculptural and architectural decoration showed minor losses of form, flaking and chipping.

As part of the task, earthworks were carried out around the object to expose the base, the whole thing was cleaned of loose biological and atmospheric layers and disinfected, and the base was plumbed. The stone was cleaned using mechanical methods, cracks and separations were underlaid and cavities were filled with mineral mortar.

- The gravestone of Zdzislav Facula Sozansky (1887-1908)- the burial place is crowned with a figure of the Madonna of the Immaculata type set on a high pedestal in the form of a stylised rock. The whole is placed on a three-step base, in the corners of which a metal fence is anchored. The two lower steps are made of sandstone, while the statue, the plinth and the upper step are carved from limestone. There is a marble inscription plaque on the front with a rectangular metal plaque with an unpreserved image of Our Lady of Czestochowa and a forged inscription below.

The object was covered throughout with a layer of weathering, mosses, algae and lichen. There were minor losses of form, flaking and chipping. The metal plaque was preserved in an incomplete state, with superficial dirt and abrasion. The marble inscription plaque had lost its polish and the inscription on it had lost its legibility. The fence was also damaged, its geometry and form disturbed. The blocks forming the base were gaping, with visible loss of jointing.

The project included: earthworks around the structure to expose the base and remove the root system growing into the joints, followed by stabilisation of its lower steps. The object was disinfected and mechanically cleaned. Smaller cavities were filled with mineral mortar. Conservation work was carried out on the inscription plaque. The additions and reconstructions were colour-coordinated and the whole was hydrophobised. The metal fence was cleaned, the geometry and form of the damaged elements were restored and covered with an anti-corrosion layer. In the course of the work, it was also decided to reconstruct the halo surrounding the head of the Virgin Mary.

Executor: Witold Butkiewicz Conservation of Monuments.

The project has been completed.

The conservation work was carried out in 2024 as part of the Polonica Institute's strategic programme 'Protection of Polish Cultural Heritage Abroad'.