The reconstruction of the Sankturin House in Kutná Hora is not yet clear

Kutná Hora - Kutná Hora has applied for a grant for the renovation of the Sankturin House. Whether the reconstruction will take place in the near future is uncertain. According to Deputy Mayor Josef Viktora (ANO), the opinion that the city has many ongoing projects might prevail, and the councilors could reject the allocated grant. A decision should be clear by the end of the year, Viktora told ČTK today.

"A grant has been applied for, but it has not yet been awarded. Of course, it will depend on the councilors whether they accept the grant or not. I cannot estimate whether there will be consensus," Viktora stated. According to him, many councilors believe that there are enough investments at the moment and that restoring the Sankturin House is not a priority. For instance, he himself considers it more important to renovate the former school on Na Náměti street, where a library is to be established. He reminded that the town hall is also continuing with the construction of a sports hall and preparing an extensive reconstruction of the Vlašský dvůr, for which the city's co-financing has already been approved and the tenders for the construction and exhibitions are to be announced.

Decisions by the councilors are hard to predict due to the current coalition crisis at the Kutná Hora town hall. Relations within the coalition of Kutnohorské změny, ANO, and ČSSD have complicated following the dismissal of Deputy Mayor Zuzana Moravčíková (ČSSD). The Social Democrats are proposing their councilor Zdeněk Hadrovský to replace her; according to Viktora, the coalition partners could agree to this. "He has support, but it will depend on how he presents himself and how he wants to fulfill his function," added Viktora.

The renovation of the Sankturin House is expected to cost over 50 million crowns, with most of the expenses to be covered by the grant. The building will require new flooring, as well as new water and electricity installations. The Félix Jenewein Gallery, currently located in the Vlašský dvůr, is set to move into the building.

The Sankturin House on Palackého náměstí is one of the oldest monument-protected buildings in the city. Originally Gothic, the later baroque reconstructed structure was built at the end of the 13th century as a fortified tower building of a manufacturing nature. Silver ore was processed in the smelting facilities here. One of its peculiarities is the historic tower, whose foundations reach a depth of 7.5 meters. At the end of the 15th century, the house was purchased by the mint master Beneš of Trničí and was transformed into a luxurious palace. During a massive fire in the city center in 1770, the building burned down and during a later reconstruction, it gained its current appearance.