Beroun believes that it has a chance to win the title of Historical City of the Year

    KLADNO/BEROUN - Beroun's mayor Jiří Besser believes that the city could succeed in the competition for the title of Historical City of the Year. According to him, Beroun could have a chance due to the completion of the renovation of the Plzeň Gate, including the restoration of the fresco by Vilém Preis from 1912 and the repair of the city coat of arms on the historic town hall building. The title is awarded annually to the city that receives the Award for the Best Preparation and Implementation of the Urban Heritage Zone Regeneration Program in that year.
    Last year, as a newcomer to the competition, Beroun won the regional round and received an award from Moderní obec magazine at the national level. The Historical City of the Year 2004 was Františkovy Lázně.
    The urban heritage zone was declared in Beroun in 1992. Currently, the city is implementing the fourth plan for the renewal of the historical core for the period of 2004 to 2007. This year, the town hall plans to repair the interior of the Plzeň Gate. In the following years, according to the mayor, it will rather be about encouraging other property owners to consider the appearance of their buildings.
    "For example, the building of the Czech Post lies on the edge of the urban heritage zone and its appearance only brings shame to the city," Besser stated.
    Some cities have had to slow down the restoration of monuments recently, according to the Vice Chairman of the Association of Historical Sites of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia, Vladimír Vihan. For 2005, 160 million crowns were available in the state regeneration program. This is the lowest since 1992 when the government approved this form of support for the restoration of the heritage fund. Up to 350 million crowns were distributed, and in 2004 there were still 235 million. The Ministry of Culture usually has approximately 600 million to 750 million crowns annually for five heritage care programs.
    The Award for the Best Preparation and Implementation of the Urban Heritage Zone Regeneration Program is awarded by the Association of Historical Sites of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry for Regional Development, in cooperation with the Czech National Committee of ICOMOS and the Office of the President of the Republic. The results for 2005 will be announced in April in the Spanish Hall of Prague Castle.