The conservationists succeeded with the project to restore the theater in Valtice

Valtice (Břeclavsko) - The Ministry of Culture has recently approved a project to restore the dilapidated baroque theater in the castle complex in Valtice, Břeclavsko. This information is provided on their website. The building will become a center for theater and dance. The project will cost a quarter of a billion crowns. The theater will be restored with significant support from the European Union. The ministry's decision is very good news for heritage preservation, said Zdeněk Musil from the Brno heritage institute today to ČTK.
    A selection committee of the ministry decided on the project. The Brno heritage institute, which is its creator, is now waiting for written notification. The construction restoration of the theater building, which served as a parking place for farmers' tractors during communism, could begin next year. The first performance could take place in two to three years.
    EU grants are expected to cover up to 85 percent of the necessary costs. The rest will be provided by the state. The theater is to become a home stage for groups from Břeclav and the surrounding area. It could serve not only for gatherings of artists dedicated to baroque theater but also for the presentation of folklore.
    Although the theater is a unique structure, it has had a troubled fate. It was used as a theater stage until the second half of the 20th century. Then its interiors were demolished, and the building became a parking hall, and in the early nineties, it became a huge disco.
    Heritage experts now want to restore the building according to preserved historical documentation. The facade of the theater will not be a problem. The challenging work will be inside, as the interiors, including stage equipment, have been destroyed. The restored hall should have about 200 seats.
    The Valtice Castle is part of the Lednice-Valtice area, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.