Kroměříž will contribute two million crowns to the restoration of the Podzámecká Garden

Kroměříž – This year, the Kroměříž City Hall will contribute two million crowns for the restoration and operational safety of the Podzámecká Garden. The grant, requested by the Administration of the Archbishop's Castle and Gardens in Kroměříž, was approved by the city council at its meeting today. 16 out of 23 present councilors voted in favor. The castle and the adjacent Podzámecká Garden, which is freely accessible, are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites and are owned by the church.

The Administration of the Archbishop's Castle and Gardens in Kroměříž requested a grant of 3.5 million crowns, but the city council recommended reducing it to two million crowns, which the councilors approved today. "The Podzámecká Garden is a green park in the heart of the city. It is our only and simultaneously the largest public park in the city, frequently visited by residents," said Mayor Tomáš Opatrný (ANO). If the garden were to be maintained by the city itself, it would mean enormous costs, according to him.

Opposition councilor Petr Komínek (for Jaroslav Němec - Independents) expressed fundamental disagreement with providing the two-million-crown contribution. He suggested it be reduced to one million crowns, which the councilors did not approve. "Giving two million crowns to someone who is a billionaire is outrageous," said Komínek.

The councilors allocated money for an arboricultural survey, including potential pull tests and a mycological survey of trees, removal of operationally dangerous trees, and crown trimming. They also supported the revitalization of park paths and the restoration of garden furniture, benches, and containers for portable plants. The funds will also be used for the restoration of plants in ornamental beds, hand gardening tools, and the equipment of the zoo corner.

In 2022, the city hall allocated 1.5 million crowns for the restoration and maintenance of the Podzámecká Garden. In the previous year, it was 1.15 million crowns.

Last year, approximately 65,000 visitors visited the Kroměříž Castle. This year, the site attracts visitors with the restored Chamber Hall, where director Miloš Forman filmed some scenes from his Oscar-winning movie Amadeus in the 1980s. After reconstruction, the castle's picture gallery is also open. It offers the second most significant collection of paintings in the Czech Republic, following the National Gallery. It exhibits dozens of works, including paintings by Titian, Van Dyck, and Cranach the Elder. In the Podzámecká Garden, which covers an area of 64 hectares, the number of visitors is not recorded.