Prague 6 is ready to take over and renovate the Veleslavín Castle following its acquisition from the state

Prague - Prague 6 is prepared to take over the Veleslavín castle area if the city buys it from the state and ensure its gradual revitalization. This was approved today by the representatives of the city district. The town hall is already preparing a concept for the long-term use of the area, including an economic assessment, and would like to cooperate with private partners. According to Mayor Jakub Stárek (ODS), the estimated costs for revitalization are 1.5 to 2 billion Czech korunas, and it will be a project spanning two to three electoral terms.

The Office for Representation of the State in Property Matters (ÚZSVM) had unsuccessfully attempted to sell the castle area at auction ten times. The starting price gradually decreased from the initial 580 million to 210 million Czech korunas in the last attempt at the end of last year. Prague has consistently declared interest in taking over the area, but the price seemed too high to city representatives considering the necessary investments.

Recently, councilor Adam Zábranský (Pirates) announced the city's willingness to pay the demanded 210 million Czech korunas at the last auction. According to him, Prague 6 is interested in taking over the castle and ensuring the costly reconstruction, which was unanimously confirmed today by the representatives of the city district.

"We declare that we are prepared to take care of the area in the future and that we will work on it," said Deputy Mayor Petr Prokop (STAN) at today's council meeting. He added that the city council should vote on the purchase of the castle from the state in April. The city district will then submit a request to the city hall for the so-called entrustment of the area into its management. Since 2024, it has been taking care of it based on a loan from the state and has opened it to the public.

According to the Deputy Mayor, the city district plans to keep the castle building for itself and use it for representative purposes, culture, or as a community center. In addition, there are three other large buildings in the area that it wants to offer to private partners. Those partners would be compensated for their investment in repairs by waiving rent.

Preferred uses of the buildings are for education, and according to Prokop, there is also the possibility of establishing a restaurant or cultural facility, of course, with regard to heritage protection. On the other hand, the previously considered health and social use, for example for a palliative center, has been largely abandoned by the town hall, as they want to keep the area lively and open throughout the day, and such a facility would require a quiet regime, the Deputy Mayor added.

Revitalization is a long-term project; the necessary surveys and project creation will likely take years. According to Prokop, the town hall plans to keep the area open during the preparation period and maintain programs there that are currently organized mainly by local associations and other community organizations, possibly with greater contributions from the town hall.

Veleslavín Castle with a historic park spans three hectares and dates back to approximately 1725. It was built according to the plans of Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer for Empress Amálie of Brunswick. In the first half of the 20th century, it served as a neurological sanatorium founded by Leo Kosák and one of the discoverers of Alzheimer's disease, Oskar Fischer. Notable figures treated there included Charlotta Garrigue Masaryková and Milena Jesenská.