The city of Olomouc would like to turn the Korunní Fortress into a museum

Olomouc - Olomouc city councilors recommended selling the Crown Fortress to the civic association Museum of the Olomouc Fortress (MOP), which intends to use the former military structure to promote the Olomouc fortifications and develop tourism. The price is expected to be symbolic. Three bidders showed interest in the fortress, including MOP, the current tenant Stavebnictví Pospíšil, and an investment firm. Mayor Martin Novotný stated this at today’s press conference. The council's position still requires the approval of the representatives in mid-February.
    The Crown Fortress is almost hidden next to the city center in Bezruč Gardens. A private construction company utilizes it with the city's permission as a construction yard. The city even reimburses part of the rent to the company Stavebnictví Pospíšil for maintenance and security. "We want to treat the current tenant seriously and find a suitable alternative for them," said the mayor. The construction company has a standard contract with the city with a three-month notice period.
    The reason the council preferred MOP, according to Novotný, lies in the content of the project, which is in line with the city's zoning plan. The museum also has a connection to the ring of Olomouc forts. One of them gained fame last year for being photographed by Jan Saudek, who captured the largest mass nude in the Czech Republic there.
    MOP head Markéta Záleská told ČTK that the chronology of the fortress's restoration is now set until 2012. "Everything depends on whether we will be able to obtain grants. Some programs closed in January, others at the end of February, so those funds are already lost. And that is disappointing. Moreover, we even had to decline two strong sponsors who wanted to give us money at the end of the accounting period," noted Záleská. However, grants are often designated only for the property owner. "We have seven million from the government sitting in our account and are solving additional amounts in the millions, whether they are European grants or sponsors. We are truly prepared. We are just waiting for the transfer of the fortress from the city," stated Záleská.
    However, the mayor estimated the time of the transfer to be around the turn of spring and summer. According to him, the city is interested in the fate of the fortress, but the city hall does not have the required 200 to 300 million crowns for its restoration.
    The city obtained the valuable property from the army for free in 2000. A few months later, it rented it to Stavebnictví Pospíšil for 250,000 crowns per year. Among the members and supporters of MOP are Minister of the Interior Ivan Langer and several personalities from Olomouc's cultural and social life.
    The fortress once protected access to the Olomouc fortress. In addition to the crown wall, there is a powder magazine, guardhouse, and two artillery depots. The Crown Fortress is part of a unique system of fortifications in the city and was part of the Theresian Fortress. Subsequently, especially in the first half of the 19th century, 22 forts - small fortifications were created in the area to prevent attackers from approaching the city.