Bystřice pod Hostýnem will acquire Ondřej's villa, which will be used by children

Zlín - The town of Bystřice pod Hostýnem in the Kroměříž region will acquire the villa of academic painter František Ondrúšek from 1913. The city hall paid over 800,000 crowns to the Zlín Region for the property, which has been deteriorating since 1997. After reconstruction, the villa is expected to serve the interests of children and youth activities, said the mayor Zdeněk Pánek to ČTK today. According to the region, the city will become the owner by the end of the year.
    "The city lacks a facility where we can concentrate interest-based activities and other activities for children and youth. Therefore, we want to use the villa for these purposes," the mayor stated. However, the city still needs to secure funds for repairs, as the budget for next year does not account for it. "If we manage to secure the funds, we will start the reconstruction as early as next year," he added.
    Academic painter František Ondrúšek, who was born 145 years ago, is one of the most significant natives of the city. Important figures from cultural and social life visited his villa, where Ondrúšek portrayed them. After his death in 1932, the villa changed owners, and from 1966 to 1997, it served educational purposes.
    Afterward, the property was abandoned, although the city unsuccessfully sought to acquire it for several years. With the last owner, who became the region, the city managed to negotiate relatively quickly. "The villa has historical significance for the city. It is logical for us to own and restore it," Pánek remarked.