NPÚ is preparing to announce a tender for the renovation of Veltrusy Castle

source:www.zamek-veltrusy.cz

Prague/Veltrusy (Mělnicko) - The National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) is preparing a tender for the reconstruction of several buildings and objects in the Veltrusy Castle complex. The selection procedure, valued at 109 million crowns, is expected to be announced as early as November. The winner of the contract should be known at the beginning of next year. Thus, the Veltrusy Castle will enter the main phase of building the educational center Schola naturalis, which the organizer will primarily fund from European funds.
    The establishment of the Cultural-Ecological Education Center was approved more than a year ago by then-Minister of Culture Václav Riedlbauch. According to the Information System for Public Procurement (ISVZUS), the revitalization is set to include the northwestern wing of the castle, stables, a greenhouse, a hunting lodge, a farmhouse, and there are plans to build a sheep shelter. "The changes will indeed be extensive and demanding, as the castle complex is a national cultural monument. Some of the buildings are additionally in poor to critical condition, caused mainly by the floods in 2002," said the castle's caretaker Pavel Ecler to ČTK.
    According to ISVZUS, the awarding procedure is set to start on November 12, the winner of the hundred million tender could be known in January or February next year, and the agreed construction work should be completed by the end of 2013. The project will be financed 85 percent from European funds, with the remaining 15 percent covered by the state budget.
    The total cost of revitalizing the area and building the center is over 230 million crowns. Part of the funds has already been used for repairs, and part will be allocated for equipping the renovated spaces, which according to Ecler will newly serve not only the general public but also schools. "The revitalization of the area includes a total of about 18 investment actions," Ecler added.
    The goal of the project is to create a model of cultural landscape with forests, fields, meadows, architecture, and watercourses, and to establish an educational center focused on the coexistence of humans with the landscape.
    Over the past year, the focus has mainly been on engineering activities - project documentation was prepared, necessary construction permits secured, and work commenced on the reclamation of the water canal, construction of stormwater drainage, and restoration of areas in the northern part of the complex.
    By the beginning of 2014, students should also be heading to Veltrusy besides tourists, as courses and seminars on nature or ecology will be available for them. The castle administration also plans to organize sports and cultural events. The center will become a place for exemplary management - organic waste from the park will be disposed of in a composting facility, and renewable energy sources will primarily heat the reconstructed buildings. The deer enclosure, stables for sheep, and an orchard will also be used for teaching.
    The castle park in Veltrusy is among the most significant historical parks in the Czech Republic. The castle area covers 290 hectares and is the largest heritage site owned by the state. It is a rarely preserved ornamental farm, renowned for its composition featuring a number of rare tree species.