Kunětická hora will resemble its First Republic form

Ráby - Kunětická hora Castle in Pardubice is set to undergo a major reconstruction starting in August, which will open up previously closed areas. The restoration will revitalize parts of the monument designed by the prominent architect Dušan Jurkovič in the 1920s. The project, costing nearly 79 million crowns, will be primarily funded by European subsidies. Representatives of the National Heritage Institute informed the press today.

"The aim is not only to restore Jurkovič’s palace and its restaurant but to create a very modern visitor center, bringing the castle and the region increased publicity and thus growing visitor numbers," said NPÚ Director Naďa Goryczková.

The sixth gate is still inaccessible, where the architect designed carved furniture, paneling, and a red and green lounge. The ticket office on the ground floor will be removed after the reconstruction. Instead, the castle administration will restore a wooden veranda as it appeared during the First Republic. It will serve as a visitor center. The project also includes the preservation of the fortification system.

Part of the project is the repair of Jurkovič's palace, specifically the western wing, which has currently been off-limits to visitors. Specialized companies will clean the building of inappropriate interventions from the 1990s, restore the masonry, and the wooden features that Jurkovič designed. There will be a modern extension in the wing, featuring an exhibition dedicated to Jurkovič's work.

"He managed to combine folk elements with modern features in an amazing way. He left behind incredible buildings, whether it be Pustevny or the romantic restoration of the Nové Město nad Metují Castle," said Miloš Kadlec, director of the NPÚ territorial heritage office.

The repairs will not interfere with the visitor seasons. They will be carried out in phases and will last about four years. Jurkovič was hired by the then owner of the castle, the Museum Society from Pardubice, in the 1920s. Some of his designs were ultimately not realized because the society members considered them controversial. According to Jurkovič, the repairs of monuments only made sense if they found a new purpose and use. He faced rejection in his plans to build a massive stone staircase and floors in the castle palace. There was supposed to be a community hall and a room.

"His intentions probably did not fit into the society's concept," Kadlec said. Heritage care, both then and now, tends to favor a conservation approach.

Kunětická hora Castle has belonged to the state since 1953; in the 1960s and 70s, it received no funding for repairs, leading to its deterioration. In 1993, heritage specialists reopened the castle to the public, and repairs are taking place during operations. The oldest part of the castle dates back to the mid-14th century, and it was reconstructed and expanded by the Pernštejn family in the 15th century.