In Žďár n. S., an architectural competition for the information center of Zelené hory is starting

Žďár nad Sázavou – An architectural competition for the design of the information and tourist center of Green Mountain with the pilgrimage church of St. John of Nepomuk is starting in Žďár nad Sázavou. The competition was commissioned by the city in collaboration with the Roman Catholic parish that manages the UNESCO monument. Proposals are to be gathered by the end of September, the mayor Martin Mrkos (Žďár-living city) said today to reporters. The costs of the competition will be half a million crowns.

"We all know that the pilgrimage church on Green Mountain is one of the most significant works of Baroque Gothic by architect Jan Blažej Santini," Mrkos said. The basic infrastructure for visitors and the staff of the church has long been significantly lacking. The placement of a new building near such an important monument with a unique location in the landscape will be an extraordinary challenge for architects, the mayor believes.

The information center, with a built-up area of around 500 m², is to be created on city land in the lower third of the hill, near the intersection of Vejmluvova and Sychrova streets. The new building should include facilities for staff and an area for visitors with ticket sales and souvenirs. There should also be space for light refreshments and sanitary facilities. Architects should also address parking in this area.

According to the competition's specifications, the costs for the center, whose investor will be the church, should be around 20 million crowns. Subsequent modifications to public spaces, technical and transport infrastructure are estimated to cost about 15 million crowns. "This would be an amount that would be borne by the city in the future," said Mrkos.

The city will allocate 310,000 crowns for the competition, the region will contribute 100,000 crowns, and the parish will also participate in equal measure. This money will cover the organization of the competition, prizes for competitors, and awards for the jurors. The mayor noted that the prizes are not particularly dazzling, but he believes that this is a prestigious matter that will attract architects.

It is still not possible to say when the center will be built. "It will be a long-distance run," Mrkos assumes. The chosen approach will allow applying for European subsidies for the project. The route through the architectural competition is, according to the mayor, a condition set by the National Heritage Institute and the Ministry of Culture.