The Premonstratensians in Želiv will restore the facades of the monastery buildings thanks to a grant

photo: www.zeliv.eu

Želiv - The Premonstratensians in Želiv will restore the facades of part of the buildings in the monastery complex over the next three years thanks to a European grant. They plan to start work in the spring of next year and are currently organizing a tender for suppliers. The decision to grant the subsidy for the project, which has costs of around 60 million crowns, was received by the canonry in June. František Marek, the manager of its assets, informed ČTK about this.

The facades will be restored on six buildings, including the convent, the abbey, and the so-called Trčkův castle. "The buildings will be rehabilitated to their original state. Windows will be repaired or replaced, and plaster repairs will be carried out," stated Marek. Modern interventions will be removed, and the method of restoration will also be based on the survey of preserved plasters. The first stage of work is expected to begin in March 2018, with completion planned for autumn 2020.

The project funded by the IROP program also includes the digitization of the monastery's artistic collections and the establishment of a visitor center. "At the same time, a more dignified entrance to the monastery will be realized, and the Marijánka garden will be adjusted to serve as an open exhibition space," Marek added.

The monastery has been a national cultural monument since 2010. The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary was restored by the Premonstratensians two years ago. Extensive construction and restoration work concerned both the facade and the interior of the church, including baroque furnishings. Previously, roofs of the convent, abbey, and Trčkův castle, as well as the ambulatory, were also repaired.

The Želiv monastery has a troubled history. In 1950, the communists established an internment camp for priests and religious there. Later, it housed a psychiatric hospital. The Premonstratensians returned to it in the early 1990s.