Horažďovice already has a project and permission for the restoration of the castle for 200 million CZK

Horažďovice/Velký Bor - Horažďovice has completed a project and obtained a building permit for the complete reconstruction of its Renaissance castle. It will require over 200 million CZK over the next 15 years, and the city is relying on grants. A private brewery is expected to be opened at the castle next spring. This was stated today by the mayor of the five-thousand-strong town, Michael Forman (Citizens HD).

"The project for the reconstruction of the entire castle cost four million CZK. It was developed by a team of Prague architect (Tomáš) Šantavý over two years, who has very good references from heritage-protected sites and castles," he stated.

The city, which invests about three million CZK annually into the castle, will seek grants. "We are rather repairing it in stages now. We have already replaced windows in the square according to the project for two million CZK," said the mayor. The city will proceed with the reconstruction based on how much funding it receives and where needed by the state of the heritage site.

Horažďovice continually applies for funding from the Ministry of Culture's program for the preservation of architectural heritage, from which they occasionally receive smaller sums. "If it were to be regularly each year, then even with these amounts, we could work," he noted. According to the schedule approved by the city, the castle should be repaired within 15 years. "We will adjust the schedule according to the grants received," the mayor said.

In the former brewery within the castle area, two local entrepreneurs will start brewing beer next year. "They have done incredible work there, they are already installing technology. It will really revitalize Horažďovice," said Forman. The city will need to renovate the neglected adjacent inner courtyard of the economic yard, where the brewery is expected to have a summer garden restaurant. Beer was brewed in Horažďovice for 450 years until 1946.

The city can afford to spend 20 to 40 million CZK annually on investments depending on taxes and grants. According to Forman, it would be capable of reasonably and realistically investing 700 million CZK over four years. Prepared projects include the renewal and expansion of the sports complex, improvements to housing estates, the reconstruction of the cinema, gym, streets, intersections, water treatment facilities, as well as water supply and sewage systems in the managed municipalities.

The Renaissance, baroque-modified castle stands on the site of the Gothic castle of the Bavors from Strakonice. It features a prismatic tower and Renaissance arcades in the courtyard.