Moravský Krumlov is preparing adjustments to the castle for the Slavic Epic

Moravský Krumlov - Moravský Krumlov is preparing renovations for the castle, where the Slav Epic by Alfons Mucha is expected to be exhibited from the summer of next year. The estimated costs are between 35 and 40 million crowns, said the mayor of Krumlov, Tomáš Třetina (TOP 09), to reporters today. The city will contribute ten million, will request the same amount from the South Moravian Region possibly with an increase, and wants to obtain 13 million from the Ministry of Culture. Prague will loan the Slav Epic to Krumlov for five years, as they currently have no space to exhibit the canvases.

The cycle of paintings consists of 20 large canvases, which Mucha painted from 1910 over the next 18 years and dedicated to Prague. Since 2010, the epic has been a cultural monument. Until 2011, the paintings were in Krumlov for about 50 years, but in 2011, the then leadership of Prague had them removed. They are now in the depository of the Gallery of the Capital City.

Krumlov wants to know by the end of the year how much support it will receive from the South Moravian Region and the Ministry of Culture. "Now we will also start to compete. The competition will be completed by the end of the year, so that the first four months can be spent on work and it will be finished. A month later, there will be a trial operation without the canvases; we want to bring the canvases from June to July,” Třetina stated.

The renovations include window replacement, heating work, security, and lighting. Krumlov wants to exhibit the epic all year round, and according to Třetina, it should be on display for about 300 days a year. In the past, people could see the epic in Krumlov from April to the end of October. "About 25,000 people saw it in that six-month period. It brought the city cultural center two to three million crowns. Now we want the epic to be seen by 50,000 people in a year,” Třetina noted. He mentioned that after the removal of the epic, the hotel Epopej, where there is now a dormitory, closed, and the hall remains unused.

The decision to loan the canvases to Moravský Krumlov was made by Prague city councilors last week. The reason for the transfer is the lack of space in Prague where the epic could be exhibited. Moravský Krumlov has about 6,000 inhabitants and a budget of around 150 million crowns.