Prachatice: The reconstructed hall of the National House is open

Prachatice - Today, the renovated hall of the National House in Prachatice was opened. The reconstruction of one of the most utilized cultural facilities in the city began last summer and was the first restoration of the hall since it started operating in the 1960s. The extensive repair work cost approximately 26 million crowns, 12 million of which were obtained by the city hall from the Ministry of Culture. CTK was informed about this by Mayor Jan Bauer (ODS).
The second largest investment of the city last year was prompted by the poor condition of the hall. Prachatice also lacked quality facilities for organizing balls and larger social events. Both the interior of the building and the furnishings, as well as the roof and facades, are new. The Prachatice council members have also decided what events will take place in the hall. "There will be balls, dance courses, conferences, concerts, and many more," Bauer stated.
The city hall long considered to whom it would lease the hall with a capacity of 250 seats and 100 standing places. Ultimately, it opted for the option of entrusting it to its own Cultural and Information Services. The reason is said to be the experiences of other cities in the region, such as Písek, which had problems with private tenants.
The National House consists of a complex of buildings, which includes the historic Knížecí House with the only preserved sgraffito in the city from the 16th century. The National House was purchased in 1900 by the Sokol Physical Culture Union, which renovated it and officially opened it in 1903. Various Czech associations, including Sokol, the Czech Beseda, and a public library, were based in the building in the past. The city has owned the building since 1995 when it bought it from the state.