The NPÚ will embark on the costly repairs of the castle in Litomyšl

Litomyšl - The National Heritage Institute has decided to embark on the restoration of the castle in Litomyšl. Initially, the competition was canceled, but now a contract has been signed with a new timeline. Heritage officials feared that they would not be able to use the European subsidy from the Integrated Regional Operational Program (IROP) in time, so work funded from these funds will be prioritized, while further repairs including the Manor House will follow, said Miloš Kadlec, director of the local NPÚ administration in Sychrov, today.

"It was planned this way basically from the beginning, but it was supposed to proceed in parallel. Now we have set the timeline precisely to meet the IROP indicators," Kadlec stated. The European subsidy must be utilized by the end of this year.

The overall content of the project and its budget remain unchanged. In the first phase, roofs and interiors of the third above-ground floor of the castle will be repaired with European funds. There are only ten months for the construction work; this part of the project must be completed by December. "The remaining phases of the restoration, which include other interiors of the castle, restoration of the sgraffito facades, and the Manor House, financed from the National Cultural Heritage program, are expected to be completed according to plan by 2027," said Lucie Bidlasová, spokesperson for the NPÚ in Sychrov. The NPÚ will receive 240 million crowns, including VAT, for construction work from IROP, part of a state subsidy totaling 380 million crowns, including VAT. An additional 20 million crowns from IROP will be spent on a new exhibition.

Due to delays in the procurement process initiated on October 21, 2021, caused by objections and subsequent review by the Office for the Protection of Competition, heritage officials originally canceled the competition at the beginning of January. They feared a high risk of not completing the project on time, which could lead to the return of the European subsidy. However, they ultimately decided differently.

"We assessed the risks, the company presented us with a new timeline which was reviewed by our investment technicians, restorers, and guarantors from the general directorate of the NPÚ. Based on that, we signed a contract," Kadlec said.

The NPÚ has twice failed to obtain European funding for the restoration of the castle and the Manor House in the past. Heritage officials stated that the projects with requested subsidies exceeding 250 million crowns were well-prepared, but were particularly affected by the fact that the buildings are not in a state of emergency.

The castle in Litomyšl is a valuable example of the adaptation of an Italian Renaissance palace for the conditions of the sub-Alpine countries. It was commissioned in the 1560s to 1580s by Vratislav of Pernštejn as a gift for his wife. The Renaissance residence of Pernštejn was adorned in the 17th and 18th centuries with Baroque modifications carried out by other owners, including the Trauttmansdorff and Waldstein-Wartenberg families, with the involvement of leading Baroque artists. A unique feature is the preserved family theater of the castle from 1797. The castle was inscribed on the UNESCO list in 1999.