The post office canceled the auction of the former monastery in Smíchov

Prague - Czech Post today canceled the electronic auction of the former Benedictine monastery in Prague's Smíchov district with an initial price of 420 million CZK. Only one company submitted a binding offer, but due to formal errors, it could not be included in the auction. CTK was informed by the post's spokesman Matyáš Vitík.

"Czech Post, in accordance with the rules for the sale of surplus property, as has been the case in the past, is preparing another sales offer for this property," said Vitík.

In recent years, the Neo-Romanesque complex from the 19th century has been used as a repository for the collections of the Postal Museum. However, the collections are gradually being relocated to another facility. The state purchased the former monastery in 1919 through the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, and since 1931 it has served the needs of the museum.

According to today's Lidové noviny, the future use of the property is limited. The area requires renovation, is protected as a monument, and part of it, the Church of Saint Gabriel, is to continue to serve for worship.

Czech Post was unable to sell its surplus property for several years due to a proposed transfer to a joint-stock company. This plan was canceled by the government at the end of 2014.