Přeštice will revitalize the area of the former agricultural cooperative near the cultural monument

Přeštice - Přeštice in the Plzeň Region, which purchased the area of the former agricultural cooperative, will prepare a concept for the use of the brownfield in collaboration with citizens. Next to the church, which is a national cultural monument, an attractive space with a baroque stable is to be created. Tomáš Chmelík (STAN), the mayor of the seven-thousand-strong town, told ČTK this. The cooperative was known for breeding so-called Přeštice pigs, which are recognized throughout the Czech Republic and neighboring countries.

"We want to determine a clear direction for this area. By the end of the electoral term, we would definitely like to get to the phase of a completed architectural competition," said the mayor. The area, which is now empty, was purchased by the town about ten years ago, and so far its use has not taken a clear direction. According to Chmelík, there is great potential to connect the entire area with a tourist diagonal from the House of History of Přeštice through the church, the vicarage, to the cemetery with the frequently visited grave of entrepreneur, politician, and patron Josef Hlávka. A park, an information center, and a parking lot for visitors are to be created in the area.

According to Chmelík, the baroque stable behind the administrative building, which is by the road, has great potential. The town would like to preserve the stable, which would complement the baroque church and vicarage, and it could house a gallery with a café.

"Last year, conceptual architectural proposals were created by students, who presented various options for the use of the area - from housing through a cultural center to park landscaping, i.e., the creation of a pleasant resting space next to our dominant feature," Chmelík stated. The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which is the largest Czech baroque church outside Prague, is currently being renovated by the Plzeň diocese for 84 million CZK.

"Our task now is to choose the best option in communication not only with the representatives, but all citizens of the town should participate in the decision," the mayor stated.

According to Chmelík, various options are still being considered, including the conversion of the administrative building into residential space. Although the mayor is not very inclined towards this, he wants to discuss all possibilities with representatives and citizens. "There has been a long discussion about what to convert that object into. But in recent months, we have reached the stage where there is consideration that it might not be there at all," he stated. According to architects, the building of the former management is a foreign element in the area, both in appearance and in the manner of use. Historians of architecture claim that the previous regime intentionally built agricultural cooperative complexes next to churches, as the communists tried to discredit the monuments.