Horažďovice are completing a project for the complete restoration of the castle, which will cost up to 250 million.

Horažďovice - Horažďovice are finalizing the last details of the complete reconstruction project of their castle, and they will have the building permit in the fall. It will require 200 to 250 million CZK, and the city is relying on subsidies. They have started restoring one room and a museum storage and plan to continue with the farmyard. This was stated by mayor Michael Forman (Citizens of HD). The project work costing four million crowns lasted for two years.

Next year, two local entrepreneurs will start beer production in the former brewery located in the castle premises. "They are moving at an incredible pace. We are very excited; it will be a huge plus for the city," Forman said. Beer was brewed in Horažďovice for 450 years until 1946. The private investment commits the city to make rapid adjustments to the farmyard behind the microbrewery, which will cost between 30 and 40 million CZK.

According to the mayor, the eastern wing of the castle, which houses the museum, its storage facility, and tour routes, is currently the most utilized. The northern wing has been left by the house of children and youth, with only an adult library remaining. The upper part of the wing is abandoned, and the second part is currently a temporary museum depot, while the lower part is a children's library. After its planned relocation to the community center, a large facility for cycling tourism should be created there.

"The reconstruction project of the entire castle was prepared by the team of Prague architect Šantavý (Tomáš). He has very good references from heritage-protected sites and castles, and the cooperation with them is very good. They are just finishing the details," the mayor stated. However, he believes that the project is just the beginning. In today's prices, the repairs are expected to cost up to 250 million CZK, and the city plans to divide the reconstruction over ten years. The castle is included in the program for the preservation of architectural heritage, which is meant to support it annually but with lower amounts. "We will see where we can secure further subsidies. Without them, we won't make it," the mayor said. The implementation project will be completed by the end of the year, after which the city can look for contractors in a competition.

The city will allocate a few million crowns annually from its budget for the restoration of the cultural monument, but it also plans a larger investment in the long term. It will depend on tax revenues, other constructions, subsidies, and most of all on the decisions of the city council. Horažďovice is already restoring one room, the depot, and is looking to continue with the farmyard that will connect to the microbrewery. The next phase will be to integrate the abandoned rooms into the museum's operations.

The city of five thousand can afford to spend 20 to 40 million CZK annually on investments depending on taxes and subsidies. According to Forman, it could reasonably and realistically invest 700 million CZK over four years. Planned projects include the renewal and expansion of the sports area, adjustments to the housing estate, reconstruction of the cinema, Sokol building, streets, intersections, water adjustments, as well as water supply and sewerage in the managed municipalities.

The Renaissance, Baroque-modified castle stands on the site of the Gothic castle of the Bavor family from Strakonice. It has a prism-shaped tower and Renaissance arcades in the courtyard.