NPÚ wants two billion from the EU, it has 400 million CZK from the state for repairs this year

Prague - The National Heritage Institute succeeded with five out of six projects for which it requested funding from European sources. In total, monuments worth more than 504 million crowns will be restored. Another round of applications will close at the end of March, for which the NHI is preparing nine projects. These include part of the monastery in Plasy, the Uherčice chateau, and Zákupy, totaling subsidies of 1.35 billion crowns. Additionally, this year the NHI anticipates 54 restorations costing 400 million crowns, Deputy Director of the NHI for management of heritage sites Rudolf Pohl told reporters today.

In the case of European subsidies, Czech entities contribute 15 percent of the budget. The mentioned partial restorations, for which the NHI needs tens of millions of crowns, are funded by the Administration of State-owned Property, a grant system of the Ministry of Finance. Last year, this financing covered 16 projects, such as the restoration of the carriage house at the Velké Losiny chateau or repairs of facades in Lysice, Pohl noted.

This year, the NHI plans 54 restorations costing approximately 400 million crowns. These include, for example, the reconstruction of the Jakobínka tower at Rožmberk Castle (9 million), continuation of work to make Stekník Castle accessible (16 million), the commencement of roof, truss, and ceiling repairs at Libochovice Castle (totaling 72 million over the years 2017 to 2020), or the second phase of the reconstruction of the former mint into a castle gallery in Český Krumlov (25 million).

Twenty-six projects will be completed this year, such as the opening of a new tour route at Hluboká nad Vltavou Castle (25 million) or the restoration of the interiors of eight rooms in the Minaret with Oriental decoration in Lednice, making them accessible to the public after many years (14 million).

In addition, there should be another 28 new investment projects worth 302 million crowns, which are priorities for the NHI, such as the complete restoration of the baroque truss and ceilings of Zákupy Castle (35.6 million from 2017 to 2019), securing statics and repairing the theater hall at Jezeří Castle (16.8 million from 2017 to 2019), or restoring historical tunnels and addressing moisture in the main castle building in Buchlovice (9 million this year and next year).

In the first call for drawing grants from the Regional Operational Program, the NHI succeeded with projects concerning Pernštejn Castle, the châteaux in Slatiňany and Vimperk, the Kladruby Monastery near Stříbro, and the farmhouse U Matoušů in Plzeň. Work has already started on Slatiňany and Pernštejn, with three others pending signature. The project proposed in Náchod was withdrawn. Of the total invested amount of over 504 million crowns, 85 percent is funded by the EU.

Currently, preparations are in full swing for submitting nine additional projects in a new call that closes on March 28. The NHI will aim for the restoration of the abbey residence of the Plasy Monastery, the chateau complex in Uherčice, the Krásný Dvůr chateau, and the Zákupy chateau, where the southern wing of the economic courtyard is to be restored. At Karlštejn, along with the opening of new exhibitions, they plan to build new engineering networks and a modern visitor center. Other projects concern Telč, Litomyšl, and Lednice. All nine projects are expected to total 1.35 billion crowns.

In recent years, the NHI has seen significant attendance and high revenues. Last year, revenues reached 508.79 million crowns, which is 48.47 million more than in 2015. The NHI also allocates its revenues for restoration of monuments and improving visitor facilities. The NHI operates annually with approximately 1.5 billion crowns and is the organization within the Ministry of Culture that earns the most for itself.