The Museum of Czech Paradise wants to build a replica of a log cabin

Turnov (Semilsko) - The Museum of the Czech Paradise in Turnov, Semilsko, wants to build a timbered Pojizerská cottage, known as a stonemason's house, on its grounds. The house will be a replica of the oldest timbered cottage in the town, which could not be saved ten years ago. It will be erected in the museum's garden and will form an exhibition focused on traditional stonemason craftsmanship and jewelry making. The spaces will also serve as interactive and craft workshops, museum director Vladimíra Jakouběová said today to ČTK.
    The spaces of the stonemason's house will also be used for interactive craft and artistic workshops. The landscaped surroundings of the timbered structure will be intended for the relaxation of museum visitors, exhibitions of sculptures, and for educational extraction and processing of Czech garnets.
    The museum wants to obtain funding for the nearly 7.2 million koruna project from the Regional Operational Program. Together with the founder, which is the Liberec Region, it aims to contribute about ten percent of the costs, requesting five percent from the state budget and the rest from European funds. "The project also includes the equipment of the recently completed museum depository, which will house around 50,000 collection items," said Antonín Schäfer, deputy governor of Liberec for culture, to ČTK.
    The Museum of the Czech Paradise is located in the former Inn at Bažant and is among the most visited in the region. Its collections, focused mainly on gemstones and history, attract about 80,000 visitors annually, about a third of whom are foreigners - Germans and Dutch. Museum attendance is growing, and according to Jakouběová, especially thanks to the creative workshops, which is why one lapidary and a goldsmith should work in the new building.
    Originally, the museum specialized in archaeology, history, and ethnography. It operates with an annual budget of around 11 million korunas, of which about 65 percent comes from the region's contribution, while the rest is secured from admission fees and other own activities, such as archaeological research. The replica of the stonemason's house is not the only project for which the museum wants to obtain funding from European funds. It is also preparing a joint project with the Polish Regional Museum in Jawor to establish a gem treasury and mineral exhibition.