In Kroměříž, the costly restoration of the castle and the Podzámecké Gardens has concluded after six years

Kroměříž – In Kroměříž, the expensive restoration of the Archbishops' Castle and the Podzámecká Garden, which are UNESCO heritage sites, has been completed after six years. The work included the reconstruction of the castle roof and the restoration of historic rooms. Among the tasks were the repair of the Mill Gate and the restoration of the water system in the garden. Visitors to the castle will see some areas that have not been accessible until now, said today to journalists the project consultant of the Olomouc Archbishopric, Štěpán Sittek, and the director of the Archbishops' Castle and Gardens Administration in Kroměříž, Jiří Uhlíř.

The costs amounted to nearly 245.7 million crowns excluding VAT, with subsidies from the Integrated Regional Operational Program reaching 220.3 million crowns. The Zlín Region also contributed approximately 2.2 million crowns to the enhancement of the castle and garden. The remaining amount was provided by the Olomouc Archbishopric, which gained both heritage sites through church restitutions. "The project significantly increased the visitor appeal of our site," stated Uhlíř.

Construction work began in 2018. "We are not aware of any such major repairs occurring directly at the castle in the last hundred years. The worst condition here was the emergency state of the roof, where there was a risk of damage to the heritage due to leaking," said Sittek.

The security systems in the castle have been modernized and expanded. Experts restored several historic rooms, including the famous Assembly Hall. Despite the extensive work, the castle remained open to the public. "We tried to ensure that visitors could see restorers at work," said Uhlíř.

The adjustments also affected the depositories and the castle gallery, which offers the second most significant collection of paintings in the Czech Republic after the National Gallery. The arrangement of the tour circuits has changed. A new feature is the opening of the so-called Treasury, which likely dates back to the first half of the 16th century and is part of the castle tower. "It displays the most valuable collection items from the 15th and 16th centuries," noted Sittek.

Thanks to the reconstruction, the archbishopric will also make the Mill Gate accessible to the public, which is connected to the castle building. People will be able to view an interactive exhibition dedicated to the bishop's and later the archbishop's guard after the planned inspection is completed. At the time of its creation, it aimed to protect the bishop, the castle, and the town. However, it gradually acquired a more representative function. The restoration of the water system in the Podzámecká Garden included dredging and reinforcing the banks of ponds and waterways, repairing weirs, and constructing docks.

In the coming years, according to Uhlíř, a new ticket office and souvenir shop are planned for the castle. The so-called Balcony Halls and the archbishop's wine cellars under the castle are expected to be made accessible to the public in the future. "We plan to restore and make additional areas of the castle accessible," added Uhlíř.

The Archbishops' Castle and the adjacent Podzámecká Garden have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1998. Last year, over 79,000 visitors visited the castle. The Podzámecká Garden is freely accessible.