The Sedlec Ossuary in the Czech Republic’s medieval city of Kutna Hora has become the latest tourist attraction to clamp down on photography, with new rules to be enforced starting next year.
The chapel, also known as the “Church of Bones”, features bones from nearly 60,000 skeletons as decoration. Some of the most popular include a chandelier made from every bone in the human skeleton.
According to the parish director Radka Krejčí, many tourists have removed bones from the walls, kissed skeletons, put hats or sunglasses on skulls for photos or committed other disrespectful acts despite signs in many languages asking guests to be polite and mindful.
Under the new rules, visitors will have to request permission to take photos at the parish for at least three days prior to their visit.
“We believe that our visitors will respect this decision and at the same time understand the reasons that led us to this step,” Krejčí told news agency CTK.
Krejčí said in 2017 about half a million guests visited the chapel, a number that is expected to keep rising.
The nearby Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, both managed by the Sedlec parish, will also be subject to the three-day rule.
Some popular sites around the world, such as Mexico’s Casa Azul and Tulum National Park, charge a fee for visitors looking to take a snapshot.