<historickém> The historical city of the year 2013 became Chrudim </historickém>

Prague - The historical city of the year 2013 has become Chrudim. The award, given for exemplary care of heritage sites and the historical heritage of the city, was today received by the mayor of Chrudim, Petr Řezníček, at Prague Castle. The victory is also associated with a reward of one million crowns intended for further care of historical sites.
    Representatives of Boskovice and Prague 2 also received awards today. They received the Minister's award for local development, along with a reward of 100,000 crowns. The same reward is given to all 14 regional winners of the competition.
    The ceremony at Prague Castle traditionally takes place on the occasion of the International Day for Monuments and Sites, which has been celebrated on April 18 since 1983. This year, 51 cities entered the competition. Chrudim has won the title for the third time; it was in the finals in 2003 and 2012.
    In Chrudim, known mainly for its Museum of Puppet Cultures, the Museum of Baroque Sculptures was opened in 2011. It was created in the reconstructed premises of St. Joseph's Church in the former Capuchin monastery, with the reconstruction costing nearly 100 million crowns, of which over 40 percent was covered by European Union subsidies.
    The museum's exhibits represent the phenomenon of East Bohemian sculpture from the late 17th and the first half of the 18th century, primarily works by Matyáš Bernard Braun and his followers Jiří František Pacák and Ignác Rohrbach. The former church is also used for other purposes, such as concerts, weddings, ceremonial meetings, or diploma handouts. Additionally, there is a small 3D cinema inside the building.
    Boskovice, which reached the finals of the historical city competition in 2004, attracts visitors not only to its Gothic-Renaissance castle or a chateau with a neoclassical greenhouse but also to a number of monuments commemorating the local Jewish community.
    Prague 2 completed a long-term renovation of Havlíčkovy sady known as Grébovka last year. The work cost almost 389 million crowns, with the local government covering over 270 million of that amount, and another 118 million acquired from European funds. Various structures, including the Vineyard Pavilion, Pavilion, or grotto, and also the vineyard and park paths, underwent renovation over the years.
    The Historical City of the Year competition is organized by the Association of Historical Settlements of Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia, along with the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry for Local Development. The award is given for the best implementation of the Program for the Regeneration of Urban Heritage Reserves and Zones announced by the Ministry of Culture.