To the Automatic Mills in Pardubice, a bridge may lead

Pardubice - A pedestrian bridge may lead to the Automatic Mills in Pardubice across the Chrudimka River. The regional government plans to locate the East Bohemian Gallery in the mills, allowing people to enter the gallery space directly from the riverbank. Roman Línek (KDU-ČSL), the Deputy Mayor, told ČTK this today.

"We want the bridge to be beautiful and functional, attracting people to the building so that they would like to visit. We have a study, the actual project may turn out differently. But the architects see it as an interesting idea," said Línek.

Near the planned bridge, there is already a bridge, but it carries cars, and two opposing vehicles can hardly fit on the road. The sidewalks on the edges are very narrow, just enough for one person.

The Automatic Mills have been owned by architect Lukáš Smetana and his wife since last March. The region is in negotiations to purchase part of this protected monument, as it is interested in several-story building by the river. There is now an opportunity to obtain European funding for the renovation of this national cultural monument.

"The regional council supported the intention, and now negotiations will take place regarding the terms of purchasing the building. This is concerning both the price and the technical issues and the needs for further investments in the surrounding public space," said Línek.

The East Bohemian Gallery is located in the house U Jonáše at Pernštýnské Square and also in the economic part of the castle. It could potentially move from the castle premises to the mills designed by architect Josef Gočár.

Gočár designed the mills for brothers Egon and Karel Winternitz. They were built between 1909 and 1911. In the 1920s, a new silo was added, connected to the older part by a bridge. Some parts of the buildings are adorned with parapets reminiscent of castle battlements. In the 1960s, the left riverbank wing was extended with a four-story annex.