MMR will send 50 million CZK for the restoration of village chapels and wayside shrines

Bohemian Cross near the village of Perná in the South Moravian Region, source: npu.cz

Prague - The Ministry of Regional Development (MMR) will allocate 50 million CZK for the restoration of small sacred buildings in the countryside. The money will be shared among 273 approved projects, reported Vilém Frček from the MMR communication department today. In total, the ministry recorded 465 applications for support.
    "Small sacred monuments create an unmistakable charm of villages and our entire countryside. We need to take care of these witnesses of past times, which greatly contribute to the picturesque landscape," stated Minister of Regional Development Karla Šlechtová (for ANO).
    Municipalities whose representatives approved a strategic development document could apply for the grant. In the case that a sacred monument, not owned by the church, is located in the cadastral territory of more than one municipality, the application was submitted by an association of municipalities. Up to 70 percent of the actually incurred eligible expenses could be obtained, with a minimum of 50,000 CZK. The maximum grant for one project amounts to 300,000 CZK.
    The reconstruction of the chapel will begin thanks to the grant in places such as Hrnčíře in the Tábor area or Horní Radslavice in the Vysočina region. The chapel in Nová Kyselka will also receive a new bell. A list of all supported projects, including the amount of the grant, has been published by the ministry on its website.