Moravský Krumlov commissioned a project for the restoration of the castle

Moravský Krumlov - After the June purchase of the castle, Moravský Krumlov commissioned a project for its repairs, the winner of which is currently working on the project. Another company will prepare an application for a grant for the city, which could amount to up to five million euros (135 million CZK). The city is also striving for at least a temporary return of the Slav Epic and wants to hold further exhibitions at the castle, said Mayor Tomáš Třetina (TOP 09) to ČTK.

The southern and eastern wings of the castle are to be repaired. These parts are expected to serve as exhibition spaces in the future. Therefore, the city has already initiated contacts with some cultural institutions in Austria. "We are looking for options. And of course, we are striving for the return of the Epic," Třetina said.

Since 2012, when Prague took the work of Alfons Mucha on 20 large canvases away amid protests from Krumlov, it has not found permanent exhibition space. Therefore, this August, Brno Mayor Petr Vokřál (ANO) negotiated with Prague Mayor and party colleague Adriana Krnáčová about the possibility of long-term lending the canvases back to Krumlov. It is now certain that the Epic will be exhibited in Tokyo starting from March next year, before moving to China until mid-2018.

Třetina did not want to estimate when the castle could be repaired. It is a large building that was originally built as a castle in the 13th century and was converted to a chateau in the 17th century. The Epic, which Mucha painted between 1912 and 1926, was displayed here since 1963 and was one of the main reasons why many tourists visited Krumlov.

Until June of this year, the castle was owned by a subsidiary of the Slovak Incheba Reality MK, which sold it at auction for 14 million crowns to at least partially satisfy its creditors.