Heritage protectors received the European Award for the restoration of Kuks

Kuks - The National Heritage Institute today ceremoniously received the main award Grand Prix of the European Cultural Heritage Europa Nostra for the restoration of the Baroque complex in Kuks in the Trutnov region. The acquisition of the European heritage Oscar at Kuks is now commemorated by a plaque embedded in the wall of the hospital. The award decision was made in mid-May this year in Turku, Finland.

This year, the highest Grand Prix award went to seven of the best European heritage projects from a larger group of 29 recipients of the Europa Nostra award. The Czech Republic had two candidates in the Grand Prix competition. In addition to Kuks, there was also the educational project Monuments Interest Us. Kuks and the project Monuments Interest Us made it to the final twenty-nine from a competitive pool of 202 projects.

The General Director of the National Heritage Institute, Naděžda Goryczková, described the award as a historic success for the Czech Republic, as this is the first time a Czech project has won the Grand Prix in the category of heritage conservation. In 2003, the Grand Prix was awarded in the category of artistic collections for the restoration and presentation of the collections of the castle theater in Český Krumlov. The main Grand Prix award is associated with a reward of 10,000 euros (approximately 265,000 CZK). The Europa Nostra awards were established 15 years ago.

According to Europa Nostra's Executive Vice President John Sell, the Czech Republic has such a dense network of monuments that has no comparison in Europe. "The awards provide a good foundation for the growth of tourism, so that tourists do not only visit Prague in the Czech Republic," Sell said today.

The extensive renovation of the Kuks hospital cost approximately 440 million CZK, of which 374 million CZK came from European Union funds. Both the interior and exterior spaces were restored, the courtyard was returned to its original form from the early 18th century, and the herb garden behind the hospital was also restored. The renovation also included the former agricultural wing, where an educational center was created. The reconstruction of the monument began in November 2011 with archaeological research, and the actual construction work started in June 2013. In 2015, Kuks opened to the public.

The reconstructed hospital is the most visited state monument in the Hradec Králové region, attracting 113,362 visitors last year. The first year after reopening the monument in 2015 saw a record nearly 140,000 visitors. This year, the monument's managers expect to again exceed the 100,000 visitor mark. The main tourist attraction in Kuks is the guided tour presenting the history of the Špork family and the operation of the hospital from its construction to the present day.

The hospital was built in the early 18th century by František Antonín Špork for the care of elderly and incapacitated men from the surrounding area. The Baroque complex is famous for its sculptural decoration from the workshop of Matyáš B. Braun.

Europa Nostra is a pan-European federation of non-profit organizations supported by a wide network of public institutions, private companies, and individuals. The organization includes over 40 European countries. Its president is the renowned opera singer Plácido Domingo.