Znojmo will start this year with the next phase of the regeneration of the urban monument zone

Znojmo - This year, Znojmo will begin another phase of the regeneration of the city’s heritage zone. Gradually, it will repair Divišovo Square, part of Freedom Square, and Jezuitská, Veselá, and Velká Michalská streets, with the latter being addressed first. The entire phase will cost more than 60 million crowns, said city hall spokeswoman Zuzana Pastrňáková to ČTK.
    The costs are covered by the city solely from its budget, and the contractor for this year’s construction will be selected through a competition. "The estimated price is 22 million crowns. We expect it to decrease in the competition," said Pastrňáková.
    Along with Velká Michalská, the related part of Divišovo Square and the mouth of Freedom Square will also be repaired. "We want the street space to be barrier-free, to slightly widen the sidewalks, and to ensure that the communication parameters meet the existing traffic frequency in the center of Znojmo," stated Mayor Vlastimil Gabrhel (ČSSD). Pedestrians will be prioritized over cars.
    The project was developed by Atelier Tišnovka. "The goal is to restore the street space so that it corresponds to the historical spirit of the city. At the same time, it is necessary to eliminate the neglected technical condition of the sidewalk surfaces and to equip the street with new lighting," described the regeneration plan architect Petr Todorov.
    Velká Michalská Street is an important connector between Freedom Square and Upper Square and is the main access street to the historic part from the northern part of the city. At the point where it meets Malá Michalská, a water feature will be created, which was there before.
    Other parts of this phase could be completed by 2016. However, elections will take place in the fall, and further repairs will depend on the will of the city hall and also on the amount of money in the budget.
    The city heritage reservation was declared in Znojmo in 1971 and contains 167 cultural monuments, including the national cultural monument of the rotunda of St. Catherine. The regeneration program was approved by the council in 1994. Over the past six years, Upper Square, Václavské Square, Přemyslovců Street, the city walls, and part of the Old Town, known as Jámy, have been revitalized. The streets of Jana Palacha, Studentská, Kovářská, and Komenského Square are also under repair. Last year, the middle part of the city park was addressed.