The conversion of the former school in Kutná Hora into a library will be more expensive

Projectile: Kutná Hora City Library, 2011

Kutná Hora – The reconstruction of the former school in Kutná Hora into a cultural and educational center and municipal library will be more expensive. Builders encountered unforeseen problems. Councilors approved additional costs of six million crowns at a recent meeting, said Mayor Josef Viktora (ANO) to ČTK. According to him, the reconstruction will cost around 150 million crowns.

"It's an old building, and there are things that only appeared during construction. For example, some ceilings had to be removed because they were infested with mold,” said Viktora.

The project became complicated due to archaeological findings as well. Archaeologists discovered an eight-meter deep medieval well and other remains of older buildings during a rescue excavation. According to Filip Velímský from the Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague, the research yielded a large quantity of materials and information about the development of this urban parcel from the founding of Kutná Hora to the present. This includes ceramics, artifacts made of bones or metal, coins, and so on. The most interesting find, according to Velímský, is the well, which is also documented in written sources from the 16th century. Archaeologists also found evidence of former silver mining, most likely remnants of mining shafts and processing facilities.

The reconstruction of the former school began at the beginning of March, and everything is expected to be completed by 2022. Kutná Hora needs a new library, as the current facilities in Rejskovo Square are insufficient. Lectures and computer training should also be held on Na Náměti street.

In the past, the city faced the risk of losing eligibility for EU funding for the reconstruction of the school. According to the original conditions, it was sufficient for the building to be located in a heritage zone listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, the rules changed and it was established that the specific building to be renovated must be a designated heritage site. This obstacle was eventually removed. The Ministry of Culture granted the city's request for the former school to be designated as a cultural monument.