Poděbrady want to build a new funeral ceremony hall near the cemetery in Kluk

photo: Ivan Minář, Heritage Catalog NPÚ

Poděbrady – Poděbrady want to build a new funeral hall at the municipal cemetery in Kluk. The city council approved the announcement of a project urban-planning-architectural competition for its design last week. The estimated cost of the new construction is 50 million crowns, said the city’s deputy mayor Ladislav Langr today to ČTK.

"By the end of the year, we would like to start the competition, to which the public will, of course, be able to express their views,” Langr stated. According to him, the current funeral hall in the cemetery area is old and insufficient. "We want something dignified for Poděbrady, something that could have an impact; that’s why we decided to do it through an architectural competition, to bring something artistically interesting," added Langr. The plot of land in close proximity to the cemetery is ideal, with good parking opportunities. The city's goal will be to start constructing the hall within this electoral term.

The city council also appointed the jury for the competition, which will include Langr, the chairman of the education and culture committee Zdeněk Havlas, the city architect, and one independent member.

The cemetery in Poděbrady, located in the city district of Kluk, is a registered cultural monument. It was built between 1902 and 1903 according to the plans of the Art Nouveau architect Josef Fanta. For example, the northeastern wall, known as Bílkova, is notable for its relief medallions with biblical motifs by the sculptor František Bílek. The cemetery also has several artistically valuable tombstones by prominent architects.