The Norwegian funds will pay for the restoration of the orangery at Sychrov

Sychrov (Liberec Region) - The Liberec branch of the National Heritage Institute has received approximately 10.5 million crowns from the so-called Norwegian Funds for the renovation of the orangery at Sychrov Castle. During the reconstruction, which started two years ago, builders will restore the large winter garden, and a café will be created for castle guests in the orangery. This was stated today by the institute's director, Miloš Kadlec.
    “The reconstruction must be completed by April 2011; that was the only condition for obtaining the grant,” he added. According to him, the Norwegian Funds will cover 85% of the restoration costs. The rest will be covered by the castle from its own resources. The heritage officials are basing the restoration on archival materials. The aim is to return the orangery, located at the end of the castle park, to its original form.
    The orangery, built in 1850, has the character of a summer palace. It consists of a floral gallery, a main hall, and two smaller, more intimate cabinets at the edges. “Former Emperor Ferdinand I and Emperor Franz Joseph I, for example, used to rest and refresh themselves there,” noted Kadlec.
    After the renovation, the interior of the large hall will serve as a winter garden. However, the plants that will be there must not be demanding in terms of temperature, humidity, and light conditions. The castle will use the spaces for cultural and social events, exhibitions and concerts, or literary evenings. It will also rent them out for wedding ceremonies and private celebrations.
    Sychrov is one of the most significant neo-Gothic buildings in the Czech Republic. In 1995, it was included among the national cultural monuments. The interior decoration involved exclusively Czech masters, especially the carpenter Petr Bušek. The local collection of 240 portraits is considered the largest collection of French portrait art in Central Europe. The 23-hectare castle park in the English style was established by Prince Kamil Josef Rohan, who also had the originally Baroque castle, built between 1690 and 1693, reconstructed into a romantic neo-Gothic style in the mid-19th century.
    About 125,000 tourists visit the castle annually, making it the third most sought-after tourist destination in the Liberec Region, behind the Liberec Zoo and the Babylon Center.