Workers have begun the restoration of another wing of the Loucký monastery

photo: www.turistika.cz

Znojmo - Workers have started the restoration of another wing of the Louka Monastery in Znojmo, which has been declared a national cultural monument this year. In this next phase, 36 windows on the southern facade of the southern wing will be replaced for 2.5 million crowns. Of this amount, 700,000 crowns will be covered by a grant from the Ministry of Culture from the Program for the Rescue of Architectural Heritage, according to a press release from the Znojmo city hall.

The new windows are handmade and mimic the appearance of the original historical ones. All the windows are casement, opening inwards, with single glazing. They are made of solid larch with a coating in matte ivory color, complemented by solid larch sills.

The first nine windows on the first floor have already been installed. "As the windows are produced, they will be installed in the other floors. If everything goes smoothly, it should all be completed by the end of October," said city hall spokesperson Zuzana Pastrňáková.

The first phase of window replacement on the southern facade of the southern wing of the Louka Monastery was carried out by the city last year, with 35 windows installed.

The city acquired the baroque monastery complex from the state free of charge seven years ago, although in poor condition. Most repairs that have been done so far addressed emergency situations. The former riding hall has undergone a complete reconstruction. The complex is primarily used in the basement part of the convent, where Znovín Znojmo has wine storage. The city would like to hold cultural events in the restored monastery; it could also be opened to tourists.

The monastery was founded in 1190 by the Znojmo prince Konrád Ota and soon became one of the most important centers of spiritual and economic life in southwestern Moravia. Around the mid-18th century, it underwent a large baroque reconstruction, which involved many outstanding artists of the time. The monastery was abolished during Josephine reforms in 1784, and the buildings were then used for entirely different purposes. Although the construction of the baroque monastery was never completed, it remains one of the most valuable examples of late baroque art in Moravia to this day.