U. Hradiště has completed the renovation of the Jesuit College for 77 million

Uherské Hradiště - Uherské Hradiště has completed the renovation of the former Jesuit college. This marks the culmination of the regeneration process of the entire group of baroque Jesuit buildings in the heart of the former royal town, the left part of which, including the Reduta, was reconstructed in 2001. The costs amounted to 77 million crowns, of which 24.9 million CZK comes from European funds, said mayor Květoslav Tichavský (ODS) to journalists today. Among other things, the building will now house a gallery of the well-known painter from Slovácko, Joža Uprka.
      The renovation took about 2.5 years. "It essentially involved the reconstruction of everything. In the past, the building was a Jesuit college, later barracks, and then a services house. We are pleased that the current use of the entire complex symbolizes the return of cultural, educational, and informational functions to the environment of the former center of education in the spirit of Jesuit traditions," Tichavský explained. He also pointed out that this April marked 350 years since the arrival of the Jesuits at the new college.
      A permanent exhibition on the history of the town has been installed on the ground floor, which has been lacking in Uherské Hradiště until now. It was prepared by the Slovácké museum in Uherské Hradiště in cooperation with the town hall. According to the museum's historian Blanka Rašticová, it will offer three thematic circuits. The first is dedicated to medieval history and includes, for example, the document of Přemysl Otakar II from 1257, which laid the foundations of the town. It also reminds of the capital punishment law practiced in Uherské Hradiště.
      The second thematic unit focuses on the military history of the town, which served as a defensive fortress from its inception until the late 18th century. Here, visitors can see weapons, including a unique 16th-century hook gun, as well as plans for baroque bastion fortifications. The third section illustrates the transformation of the once impregnable fortress into an administrative, judicial, commercial, and cultural center of the region.
      The ground floor will also house the City Information Center, the Youth Information Center, and the office of the Slovácko Region, as well as an exhibition and discussion hall, a shop for traditional Slovácko products, a café, and a shop for Folk Traditions and Crafts. The tourist attraction will be the Joža Uprka Gallery located on the upper floor, featuring a unique collection of paintings from the Moravian Slovácko foundation, founded by entrepreneurs and art collectors Zdeněk Zemek and Petr Vašát.
      A significant portion of the paintings exhibited in Uherské Hradiště consists of selected works from the foundation's collection, supplemented by loans from the National Gallery in Prague and some other state galleries. The exhibition also includes sculptures by the artist's younger brother, sculptor Franta Úprka. Visitors will also be able to view large-format photographs from the life of Joža Uprka (1861 to 1940), who dedicated his existence to the Slovácko countryside and folklore.
      The festive opening of the former Jesuit college - now the Slovácké Center for Culture and Traditions - will take place on Saturday. Folklore groups and music bands will perform in the courtyard starting at 09:00, with the main highlight being Hradišťan and Jiří Pavlica at 19:30.