Vysoké Mýto is looking for new uses for the buildings of the former prison and courthouse

Vysoké Mýto - Vysoké Mýto in the Orlickoústecko region is looking for a new purpose for the former prison and courthouse buildings in the square. Currently, there is a coach museum located there, which will be moving elsewhere. The city hall would like to have clarity by spring. This was stated by Mayor František Jiraský (Independent).

"It will be up to the council and the assembly's decision. There are many ideas. We set ourselves the task of having clarity on which direction we will be heading by the end of March," said Jiraský.

The former prison and courthouse were converted by the city into a coach museum, which opened in 2014. Initially, it was managed by a municipal organization, and later it was taken over by the regional museum. There is still a city gallery and information center located in the building.

Later, the region decided to establish a larger technical museum for automotive exhibits. Work on it began last year in the premises of the former agricultural school in Mýto. "The work is proceeding according to schedule. At the end of January, the region will announce a tender for the exhibitions. We should open no later than New Year's Eve," said Jiří Junek, director of the regional museum.

As the coach museum will move from the square to the new museum, the city will free up two buildings, the former courthouse and the former prison. "Many proposals are being suggested, such as a Lego museum. I've also heard an idea to establish a competing veterans museum, which we would not want. The buildings will return to the management of our Vysokomýtská cultural organization," said the mayor.

"We do not want to have a dead building in the square. At the same time, every operation costs money. We want to combine financial issues with interesting usage," added Deputy Mayor Jan Lipavský (Patriots for VM).

The historic buildings were interconnected with a corridor during modernization. Exhibitions were created in 16 prison cells. According to Junek, those small rooms have their limitations for further use. "They are cells; putting anything there is difficult. When a group of 30 children comes, one cell is small for such a large number of people," stated the director of the regional museum.