The Central Bohemian councillors approved the purchase of Hrabal's cottage in Kersko

Prague - Today, the Central Bohemian regional council approved the purchase of the cottage of writer Bohumil Hrabal in Kersko near Nymburk. The price is to be 9.9 million Czech korunas, but the proposal still needs to be approved by the regional representatives. The aim is to make this historical site accessible to the public, informed the Czech News Agency through the spokesperson of the regional government, David Šíma.

The cottage appeared for sale over the summer through a real estate agency, which was asking for 11.9 million Czech korunas. The offer caught the interest of both the regional government and the Ministry of Culture. After mutual negotiations, the regional government aims to acquire the cottage where Hrabal stayed and created, and to establish an exhibition that commemorates the writer's life, works, and his relationship with the recreational settlement of Kersko.

"We consider the price of the property, given its uniqueness, to be virtually incalculable. The potential loss of this historical environment means a loss of an irreplaceable, unique value," stated Václav Švenda (Allies), the regional councilor for culture.

The regional government requested an assessment from Václav G IRS, head of the Institute for the Preservation of Monuments at the Faculty of Architecture of Czech Technical University in Prague, who, according to Švenda, confirmed that the cultural and historical value of the property is exceptionally significant. This fact is also confirmed by the expert opinion of historian and expert Miroslav Vlka, who states that the cultural and historical value of the property vastly exceeds its construction value.

The council approved the potential acquisition of the property to be entrusted for management to the Polabské Museum, with the goal of making the cottage accessible to the public. The preparation of the exhibition dedicated to Hrabal and subsequent operations should involve the Polabské Museum on behalf of the region and the National Literary Memorial on behalf of the Ministry of Culture. The region and the ministry have previously committed to this in a memorandum of cooperation.

Kersko is part of the municipality of Hradišťko in the Nymburk district. The neighbors from the Kersko cottage settlement were the inspiration for Hrabal's book "The Snowdrop Festival," which also became a film of the same name directed by Jiří Menzel. The writer purchased the cottage in 1965. The childless Hrabal bequeathed the cottage to the neighbors.