In the Veleslavín Palace in Prague, Ukrainian children could learn

Prague – The Prague City Hall, in cooperation with Prague 6, wants to place classrooms for Ukrainian refugee children in Veleslavín Castle. Councilor Jan Chabr (TOP 09) informed ČTK that the city is currently finalizing negotiations with the state to acquire the castle, but necessary modifications should begin even before the transfer so that the castle can be used as quickly as possible. It should serve education in the future as well, and the complex could also be used for social services.

Veleslavín Castle is owned by the state, and the city has been negotiating its acquisition for some time. The Prague city councilors recently approved that the city will transfer parcels in the Nemocnice Na Homolce and Faust's house on Karlovo náměstí, which is used by the General Teaching Hospital, in exchange for the castle.

Chabr stated that the city is currently finalizing negotiations for a land exchange with the Office for Representation of the State in Property Matters (ÚZSVM). The city has also completed an exploration of the area and plans to open classrooms there in the near future. "After certain construction-technical investments, it is possible to make the original castle complex operational; until recently, there was even a tenant, so heating is provided. Only social facilities are missing," said the councilor.

He added that the city has commissioned its company Trade Centre Prague (TCP) for the necessary modifications. According to the councilor, the investments should amount to no more than a few hundred thousand crowns. The castle could also accommodate an entire elementary school, he added. However, the rest of the complex, which consists of other buildings, is in worse condition and, according to estimates from two years ago, will require investments of up to 900 million crowns, Chabr said.

The castle should also serve education after the refugee crisis has passed. According to the councilor, part of the Dědina Elementary School or the private Anglo-German Business Academy could be relocated there, which is ending its lease in the building on Bělohorské street. Additionally, according to previous statements from city representatives, the complex should also serve social purposes, such as a hospice center.

Chabr further stated that the city might also transfer one or more fire stations, which are owned by the city but used by the fire brigade, to the state in the planned exchange of the castle for city property. "It makes sense for them to gradually transition to the state so that they can carry out the investments and repairs they need," he stated. According to him, both the city and ÚZSVM will strive for the property exchange to have a zero balance so that neither side has to compensate. The fire stations could precisely serve this purpose, as the value of Veleslavín Castle is likely higher than the traded city property.

The city is also preparing another property exchange with the state. In exchange for most of the Faculty Hospital complex at Bulovka, it will acquire empty barracks in Karlín, a complex in Bohdalec suitable for the construction of city apartments, plots near the graphic school in Hellichova street in Malá Strana, parcels next to Eden Elementary School, a plot in Záběhlice for the construction of a school, and the former Ministry of the Interior building, into which the Hybernská Campus is expected to expand according to Chabr. The city council will vote separately on both exchanges again before the summer holidays.

Veleslavín Castle, with its historic park spanning three hectares, dates back to around 1725. It was built according to the plans of Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer for Empress Amalie of Brunswick. It was last reconstructed in 1986. The ÚZSVM took over the monument in 2015 from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. In recent years, the castle and adjacent buildings have been deteriorating, and the area with the forest park is closed to the public.