The Heritage Institute praised exemplary reconstructions

source: www.npu.cz

Prague/Náměšť nad Oslavou - The restoration of Renaissance gates and wall paintings in the monastery in Vyšší Brod, the rescue of the ruins of Hartenberg Castle, and the association restoring the fortress of Josefov today received the Patrimonium pro futuro (Heritage for the Future) award from the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ). The results of the third year of the competition were announced by NPÚ director Naďa Goryczková in Prague. The awards were presented at the Náměšť nad Oslavou Castle. Heritage conservationists highlight examples of good care for cultural monuments in private hands.

The award has four categories - monument restoration, presentation of values, monument rescue, and discovery of the year. In the last category, there was only one nomination this year, and the commission recommended not to grant the award. "We are not only concerned with mere compliance with the law (on heritage care); we also look for a story or added value among the nominated efforts," explained this decision by the deputy for heritage care, Martin Tomášek.

According to him, such an effort was the restoration of the Renaissance gates and wall paintings on the façade of the main gate of the Vyšší Brod monastery. The nearly 400-year-old painted gate with Rosenberg five-petaled roses was discovered based on a photograph from the 1980s found in the monastery’s attic; according to Tomášek, one of its wings served as a workbench at some point. "Renaissance gates in this form are unique within the whole republic, which is also why we granted the award," stated the director. Václav Veřtát and a team of restorers received the NPÚ award for their restoration work.

In the monument rescue category, Bedřich Loos and the Hartenberg association were honored for saving the ruins of Hartenberg Castle in Hřebeny, Sokolov region. The castle dates back to the 12th century and underwent many reconstructions, transforming into a Baroque chateau. It has been deteriorating since 1945, later burned down, and the buildings nearly disappeared. Loos works on the restoration using traditional methods and local resources, and the castle has become a favorite base for volunteers. The construction workshop established in the area trains socially excluded or long-term unemployed individuals.

The NPÚ awarded the best presentation of heritage values to the Association Protectors of the Heritage of the Fortress Josefov - Ravelin No. XIV. They are gradually working to restore the artillery ravelin, a standalone fortress that is part of the defensive line. They revive the military traditions of Josefov and popularize military history.

The NPÚ's general director awarded two special prizes for the rescue and restoration of the fortress in Hradenín near Kolín and for the restoration of plaster and roof replacement of a medieval fortress in Sudkov Dole near Pacov. For the second time this year, the public also voted; around 4,000 people participated in the competition. The most votes were received for the rescue of the ruins of Templštejn Castle near Jamolice in the Znojmo region.