The Liberec Region will contribute to securing the so-called Eliášky, a glassworks in Kamenický Šenov

Liberec - The Liberec Region will contribute one million crowns to secure the former glassworks of Eliáš Palme, known as Eliáška, in Kamenický Šenov in the Česká Lípa region. After 120 years, only a half-collapsed shell remains of the exhibition Art Nouveau chandelier factory, which has been acquired by the Eliáška Foundation, aiming to preserve this valuable monument. An international glass and cultural community center is to be established there, said Deputy Governor Květa Vinklátová (Mayors for the Liberec Region) to journalists today.

The Elias Palme chandelier factory was built according to the plans of the Kamenický Šenov builder Adolf Richter in 1905, when the production spaces, where chandeliers had been made since 1849, became insufficient. Later, the building was expanded with additional structures. Despite its dilapidated state, it is a protected monument, representing an architecturally and urbanistically remarkable work that creates an important landmark for the city due to its location.

The site is on the list of the most endangered monuments in the region. The buildings are in a critical structural condition, part of them has collapsed, and only the outer walls remain of others. "The goal of the foundation is the gradual revitalization of the building and its transformation into a vibrant cultural and educational center focused on glass, chandeliers, and architecture," said architect Tereza Šváchová, representing the foundation, who focused on Eliáška in her diploma thesis nine years ago.

The Eliáška Foundation was established around Peter Rath, a Kamenický Šenov patriot, honorary citizen, and descendant of the glassmaking Lobmeyr family, who has been striving to save Eliáška since 2000. In the first phase, according to Šváchová, rescue work will be undertaken. "We have been there with experts, and nothing is irreparable," she said. The work will be divided into stages. The foundation will attempt to obtain public and private grants for the rescue of the site and seek other partners who wish to engage in the revitalization of Eliáška.

"We have decided at this point to help the foundation secure it before winter with an extraordinary subsidy. However, we want the foundation to provide a plan for the restoration of the site; we would like to know what the next steps will be, because right now it is truly about securing it, but we need to know what the further plan is," Vinklátová added. The budget for the so-called zero phase of the rescue and restoration of the former chandelier factory complex is 1.412 million crowns for this and next year, so the region's grant will cover nearly 71 percent of the costs.