The town of Brtnice plans to renovate the Renaissance lordly granary

Brtnice (Jihlava region) - The town of Brtnice plans to restore the former manor granary near the castle for museum purposes. The town hall is striving to have the extensive Renaissance building listed as a monument to increase its chances of obtaining grants for the necessary interventions. Miroslava Švaříčková, the mayor, told ČTK. In the future, the tower and the crypt of the castle church are also to be made accessible.

The granary has three floors and occupies almost 1000 square meters. Sgraffito has been preserved on the exterior plaster. Inside, however, there are reinforced concrete columns, and later interventions have also affected the roof. "We have already written down what we would like to have there. But it will be a long-term endeavor," Švaříčková said.

The town has been unable to find money for the repairs of the granary for two years. "That’s why we decided to memorialize the granary. We will try to secure some funding for it as a monument," the mayor stated. She anticipates that the work will be carried out in stages. The planned museum in the granary will also focus on the tradition of the historical plague procession, which takes place in the town every five years.

In a town with 3,700 inhabitants, there are about forty monuments. Some of them were exceptionally opened to the public during today’s Day for Old Brtnice. The interest of the town's leadership and its residents in heritage conservation has earned Brtnice victory in the regional round of the Historical Town of the Year competition this year. The town regularly invests money in monuments, including the replacement of the shingle roof of the town hall this year.

The parish is preparing to make the tower and the crypt of the Renaissance church of Blessed Julianna by the castle accessible. However, it had to prioritize the repair of the roof of the Brtnice parish church of St. James, which will cost two million crowns. The tower’s struts were damaged by woodboring beetles. The dome was taken down on August 18, and it will return to the tower next week. The church by the castle is one of the town's landmarks. Its tower, which measures 48 meters including the top cross, is expected to attract visitors in the future not only for its view but also for exhibition displays.