Sokolov plans to renovate the mining house with European grants

Sokolov - The Municipal House of Culture in Sokolov is set to undergo major renovations of interiors, roofs, and facades. The city leadership aims to obtain European grants from the Operational Program Just Transition (OPST) to assist with the transformation of coal regions. The first project will be the renovation of the foyer, which aims to create a representative space, said Sokolov councilor Iva Kalátová (ANO) to reporters today.

"The first project is the renovation of the foyer, which means the entrance to the miners' house. The floors, walls, ceilings, radiator covers, and lighting will be repaired to create a representative space characteristic of a miners' house," the councilor said. The costs are estimated at five million crowns. The city hall wants to complete the construction work this year before the main ball season.

A larger project will involve the replacement of the roof covering and some damaged beams. Water leaks into some areas. Since it is a cultural monument, the city must consult with heritage protectors about the plans. Negotiations about the future appearance of the roof are still ongoing.

The builders will also repair the facade, which is damaged in some places. The exact costs are not yet known to the city hall, but they are likely to be in the tens of millions of crowns. The city administration has long sought to ensure barrier-free access, which is currently lacking. There are plans to build an elevator, the location of which is being discussed with heritage protectors.

The city hall wants to obtain funding for the miners' house projects from the Operational Program Just Transition from the 39th call, which is focused on the renewal of areas in public services, culture, sports, and recreation. For the Sokolov region, 220 million crowns have been allocated. The grants should cover up to 80 percent of the costs. Sokolov, which has approximately 23,000 residents, has already submitted several projects for this call, such as the reconstruction of one of the buildings in the Old Square. In total, the city hall has approximately 20 projects prepared for which it wants to obtain European grants.

The miners' house in Sokolov is a cultural monument and a landmark of the Budovatelů Square. It was built in the 1920s according to the design of First Republic architect Rudolf Wels. It underwent a major renovation between 1967 and 1970, and another significant intervention was the replacement of windows and facade repair in 2006. It hosts the largest event in Sokolov, the Miners' Day, as well as balls, exhibitions, and other cultural events.