Interested parties can view the former department store Breda in Opava until the end of September

Opava - Interested parties can visit the former department store Breda in Opava until the end of September. Guided tours will take place every Saturday. Roman Konečný, spokesman for the Opava city council, told ČTK. The dilapidated iconic building by the famous architect Leopold Bauer was purchased by the city two years ago. At the time of its opening in 1928, it was the largest department store in the country. Last year, renovations of the building began.

"Interested parties will have a unique opportunity to see the former department store Breda in all its glory every Saturday until the end of September. The guided tours will allow them to walk through almost all areas of this historic building," said the spokesman.

The tour route will take visitors to the ground floor with a glass dome, where they can see the original retail spaces. They will then access other floors where, for example, sewing workshops, an accounting office, and the owner's study were once located. The tour will conclude on the roof of the building with a view of the city.

"The tour also includes historical plans and visual materials that illustrate the rich past, present, and future of Breda. A short documentary will provide additional interesting information about this unique building. The entire tour lasts approximately 45 minutes. The tours are organized by the Opava Cultural Organization," Konečný stated.

At the time of its opening in 1928, Breda was the largest department store in the republic. The structure, built in 1927, was created by renovating the original department store and had long been neglected. The cultural monument, which belonged to the bankrupt company of entrepreneur Kamil Kolka, was acquired by the city two years ago for 39.5 million crowns. The total cost of the reconstruction was originally estimated to be around 300 million crowns, but it is now 200 million higher. The annual operation of the building, with 10,000 square meters, is expected to cost about 17.7 million crowns.

The new use of the facility is expected to emerge from an international architectural competition. The city hall has already announced it. Forty applicants from both the Czech Republic and abroad have signed up. A jury composed of representatives from the city and prominent figures in the field selected five companies or studios. The winner was the Czech-Belgian project atelier gram + OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen + Spolka. The proposal includes large construction modifications and, for instance, making the roof accessible, from where there is a view of Opava.