Prachatice received the title of Historical Town of the Year in South Bohemia

České Budějovice - The title of Historic Town of the Year 2020 was awarded to the town of Prachatice in South Bohemia. It will thus proceed to the national round of the competition, the winner of which will be announced in April. This time, České Budějovice also applied for the competition in the South Bohemian Region. Prachatice has long been investing in the restoration of monuments. This was announced today in a press release by Naděžda Pálková from the National Heritage Institute in České Budějovice.

In the Monument of the Year competition, the Chapel of the Assumption of the Lord in the town of Trhové Sviny won in South Bohemia. This is indicated by information on the website.

Prachatice scores points in the regional round of the competition every year. Compared to České Budějovice, it is a smaller heritage reserve, but it draws funds from programs supporting monuments every year; last year, two million CZK. The share of funds for the restoration of monuments from the city budget was also high, at 2.13 percent. "The jury also appreciated the activities of associations and entrepreneurs, and the services for residents and visitors," Pálková stated. Last year, Soběslav won in the region.

České Budějovice ranks among the largest urban heritage reserves in the Czech Republic. Last year, the Diocese of České Budějovice restored the Dominican Monastery in Piaristické náměstí. This was the largest renovation since the fire in 1723. Work began in September 2015, with costs amounting to 75 million CZK, of which about 60 million was covered by EU grants. The diocese wants to open the garden more to the public. České Budějovice won in the regional round in 2019, also thanks to the restoration of the Renaissance building Solnice in Piaristické náměstí.

Prachatice received the title of Historic Town of the Year in the Czech Republic in 2002. Other South Bohemian towns that have previously been absolute winners include Třeboň (1996), Jindřichův Hradec (2007), and Slavonice (2017).

During the selection, the jury evaluates the number and quality of monument restorations, care for public spaces, the environment, services for visitors, and the involvement of associations in public life over the past ten years. Winners of the regional rounds of the competition will receive 100,000 CZK from the Regeneration Program, and the national winner will receive one million CZK.

The Historic Town of the Year award, which takes into account how municipalities care for their heritage reserves and zones, has been announced by the Ministry of Culture since 1994. The first title in 1995 was awarded to Svitavy in the Pardubice Region.