The Špilberk Castle awaits renovation for 151 million

Brno - Another construction project is underway in Brno, which aims to contribute to the overall restoration of Špilberk Castle. The current project, costing 151 million crowns, involves the reconstruction of the southern wing. The city hall has received a European grant of 42 million crowns for the construction. The difference between the two amounts will be covered by the city from its budget, so the plan still needs to be approved by the city councilors, said Mayor Roman Onderka (ČSSD) to ČTK. In recent years, the city hall has invested hundreds of millions of crowns into the castle, with about one-fifth remaining unreconstructed.
    The current project includes the renovation of the southern wing of the castle, including the terrace. The construction work will also affect the castle's wine bar and facilities for the summer stage. These changes are expected to create new exhibition spaces and a more intimate summer stage with facilities in the eastern bastion. Contractors are set to begin work at the castle this summer. The completion of the project is scheduled for the end of 2012.
    According to Deputy Mayor Daniel Rychnovský (KDU-ČSL), a new approach to utilizing the castle is more important than simply repairing the roofs or facades. Officials from the city hall note that it is still not frequently visited, which they attribute to its location on a hill. To make it more accessible to people, a shuttle service will be organized by the transport company during this tourist season. There are also plans for a cable car to be built. The cable car is expected to run from a location on Údolní street next to the Office of the Public Defender of Rights.
    "We want the castle to come alive, so that it is not a fossil on a hill that nobody wants to visit," said the deputy. The Museum of the City of Brno, which operates at Špilberk, welcomed 133,000 visitors to its exhibitions and displays last year, which is 8,000 fewer than the previous year. After the planned transformations, which will also affect the permanent exhibitions, the annual visitor count is expected to reach 300,000 people.