In Vrchlabí, a visitor center of the Krkonošsko-jesenická National Park Administration was established for 340 million crowns
Vrchlabí – The Krkonošsko-Šumavský National Park Authority (KRNAP) today presented a new visitor center with an interactive exhibition about the Krkonoš Mountains in Vrchlabí. It was created within the interior of a renovated former monastery, which houses the KRNAP Museum. The new exhibitions of the KRNAP Museum of the Krkonoš Mountains aim to modernly present the story of the Krkonoš, including the reasons for the establishment of KRNAP. This was stated by representatives of the national park during the ceremonial opening of the center. The public opening is scheduled for the beginning of November, said KRNAP spokesperson Radek Drahný to ČTK.
Today's event was also attended by Environment Minister Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL), representatives of Krkonoš municipalities, and other institutions. KRNAP is the oldest national park in the Czech Republic, established in 1963.
"This is undoubtedly one of the most modern museum exhibitions in Central Europe, which is so-called alive, will be adjusted and supplemented. It is the largest exhibition about the Krkonoš. It offers a complete story of the Krkonoš, from the formation of the first rocks to the present," said Robin Böhnisch, the director of KRNAP, to ČTK.
The total costs reached 340 million crowns and were composed from EU funds and co-financed from the KRNAP budget. The construction works amounted to approximately 140 million crowns, while the exhibition cost 200 million crowns, prices include VAT, said the national park representatives.
The opening of the center is one of the main events of the year, during which KRNAP celebrates 60 years since its founding. "The Krkonoš National Park is celebrating an anniversary this year, so it is symbolic that during the celebrations, we can open the reconstructed and new museum. I wish the museum many visitors," said Hladík.
The museum with exhibitions for the public is not yet open; an Open Day is scheduled for Thursday. "But that will just be a taste. The public opening is planned for the beginning of November, we will specify the date," said Drahný to ČTK. The visitor center will be open daily except for Mondays, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with the last entry permitted at 4:00 PM. The basic admission fee will be 200 crowns, reduced 100 crowns, and family admission 400 crowns.
The new exhibitions and KRNAP Museum cover almost 3,000 m² in the basement, ground floor, and first floor of the building. They replace the original exhibitions of the KRNAP Museum in Vrchlabí Stone and Life and People and Mountains opened in 1984 and 1995. The plan for the new KRNAP visitor center also required the creation of a new entrance to the building, designed in the form of a rock combined with a glass cube. The new multifunctional entrance allowed for the preservation of the essence of the monastic building's structure.
"Visitors can see, for example, aquariums with live fish or historical mine tunnels. They will also learn how the Krkonoš were influenced by humans and vice versa," said Drahný.
The monastery building had been closed to the public due to reconstruction since October 2017 and has been under reconstruction since. The center's project faced many complications, leading to several months of delays according to representatives of KRNAP. The implementation of the project was affected not only by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic but also by the war in Ukraine and rising energy prices. The building and exhibition reconstruction of the monastery also experienced delays due to high groundwater levels.
"Despite all these unfavorable circumstances, today we stand at the beginning of something completely new after nearly 15 years. Once again, there is a new exhibition in Vrchlabí that has ambitions to become a leader in Czech, and possibly Central European museology and a flagship of the Krkonoš nature conservation," said Drahný.
According to representatives of KRNAP, the original idea of replacing outdated exhibitions due to declining visitor numbers dates back to 2008.
The Krkonoš Museum in Vrchlabí was founded 140 years ago on the initiative of the Austrian Krkonoš Society, which aimed to make the Krkonoš accessible to tourists, to protect them, and to gain deeper scientific knowledge. The museum initially had a strong natural science focus, but the founders aimed to create an institution with a broader scope. From the very beginning of the Krkonoš Museum, there was a desire to preserve both natural and culturally historical artifacts of the region. This did not change even after World War II when the museum was entrusted to the care of the Czech Tourist Club. However, the following years meant a decline both in terms of professional activity and in terms of care for the buildings that housed the museum. Relief for the collapsing institution came in 1966 when it came under the management of KRNAP.
Today's event was also attended by Environment Minister Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL), representatives of Krkonoš municipalities, and other institutions. KRNAP is the oldest national park in the Czech Republic, established in 1963.
"This is undoubtedly one of the most modern museum exhibitions in Central Europe, which is so-called alive, will be adjusted and supplemented. It is the largest exhibition about the Krkonoš. It offers a complete story of the Krkonoš, from the formation of the first rocks to the present," said Robin Böhnisch, the director of KRNAP, to ČTK.
The total costs reached 340 million crowns and were composed from EU funds and co-financed from the KRNAP budget. The construction works amounted to approximately 140 million crowns, while the exhibition cost 200 million crowns, prices include VAT, said the national park representatives.
The opening of the center is one of the main events of the year, during which KRNAP celebrates 60 years since its founding. "The Krkonoš National Park is celebrating an anniversary this year, so it is symbolic that during the celebrations, we can open the reconstructed and new museum. I wish the museum many visitors," said Hladík.
The museum with exhibitions for the public is not yet open; an Open Day is scheduled for Thursday. "But that will just be a taste. The public opening is planned for the beginning of November, we will specify the date," said Drahný to ČTK. The visitor center will be open daily except for Mondays, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with the last entry permitted at 4:00 PM. The basic admission fee will be 200 crowns, reduced 100 crowns, and family admission 400 crowns.
The new exhibitions and KRNAP Museum cover almost 3,000 m² in the basement, ground floor, and first floor of the building. They replace the original exhibitions of the KRNAP Museum in Vrchlabí Stone and Life and People and Mountains opened in 1984 and 1995. The plan for the new KRNAP visitor center also required the creation of a new entrance to the building, designed in the form of a rock combined with a glass cube. The new multifunctional entrance allowed for the preservation of the essence of the monastic building's structure.
"Visitors can see, for example, aquariums with live fish or historical mine tunnels. They will also learn how the Krkonoš were influenced by humans and vice versa," said Drahný.
The monastery building had been closed to the public due to reconstruction since October 2017 and has been under reconstruction since. The center's project faced many complications, leading to several months of delays according to representatives of KRNAP. The implementation of the project was affected not only by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic but also by the war in Ukraine and rising energy prices. The building and exhibition reconstruction of the monastery also experienced delays due to high groundwater levels.
"Despite all these unfavorable circumstances, today we stand at the beginning of something completely new after nearly 15 years. Once again, there is a new exhibition in Vrchlabí that has ambitions to become a leader in Czech, and possibly Central European museology and a flagship of the Krkonoš nature conservation," said Drahný.
According to representatives of KRNAP, the original idea of replacing outdated exhibitions due to declining visitor numbers dates back to 2008.
The Krkonoš Museum in Vrchlabí was founded 140 years ago on the initiative of the Austrian Krkonoš Society, which aimed to make the Krkonoš accessible to tourists, to protect them, and to gain deeper scientific knowledge. The museum initially had a strong natural science focus, but the founders aimed to create an institution with a broader scope. From the very beginning of the Krkonoš Museum, there was a desire to preserve both natural and culturally historical artifacts of the region. This did not change even after World War II when the museum was entrusted to the care of the Czech Tourist Club. However, the following years meant a decline both in terms of professional activity and in terms of care for the buildings that housed the museum. Relief for the collapsing institution came in 1966 when it came under the management of KRNAP.
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