The conservationists will begin the renovation of the summer palace in Český Krumlov

České Budějovice - South Bohemian heritage experts will start this year a three-year renovation of the Bellarie summer palace near the rotating auditorium in Český Krumlov for 50 million crowns. The Český Krumlov Castle will also begin the restoration of the former Mint for 35 million. In Hluboká, they will repair and drain the retaining wall under the Upper Garden. This was said today by the spokeswoman for South Bohemian heritage experts, Markéta Slabová.

The South Bohemian monuments were visited by 1.14 million people last year from January to October. Revenue from ticket sales was 137.6 million crowns. Until March 30 this year, before the new season begins, some castles and chateaus in Český Krumlov, Hluboká, Nové Hrady, Rožmberk, and Třeboň will remain partially open during the winter.

In Český Krumlov, this year, construction and restoration work will begin on the Bellarie summer palace in the castle garden. It will last until 2021. Wall paintings, the black kitchen, the preparation room including the addition of authentic furnishings, elevators including the mechanism of the so-called magic table, and the stucco decoration of the artificial grotto will be restored," said the spokeswoman.

At Bellarie, heritage experts will also repair windows, doors, floors, shingle roofing including a new green paint job, the facade, restore and gild the metal railings, and refurbish paths and lawns.

Construction and restoration work will also begin on the Krumlov Mint in the second courtyard. There will be a new gallery in the interiors of the second floor. "An interesting element will be the addition of original green shutters and fruit trees," the spokeswoman stated. The interior will see restoration of paintings from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries as well as wooden floors. The work costing 35 million will last until 2020.

This year in Český Krumlov, the second phase of work in the Mountain Garden continues, where heritage experts will make the so-called Paraplíčko building accessible as a gardening museum. The work is planned until 2020 and will cost eight million.

At Rožmberk Castle above the Vltava, the restoration of the Jakobínka tower will continue this year: construction of the roof structure, wooden walkway, and work in the interior. "We plan to complete the entire project by the end of September and to commission the tower by the end of the year," said the castle keeper, Andrea Čekanová. This will be an investment of six million crowns this year.

The largest construction project at Hluboká Castle will be the repair and drainage of the retaining wall under the Upper Garden for 2.5 million crowns. In the future, the management of the castle wants to build facilities for gardeners with garages and a storage area, therefore a project documentation for 600,000 crowns will be prepared this year. Another project documentation for the restoration of the winter garden will cost 500,000 crowns. The restoration of communication routes and furnishings in the castle park in Třeboň will require 8.5 million.