The restoration of the baroque terraces of the castle in Zákupy will involve collaboration between the NPÚ, the region, and the town

Zákupy - The restoration of the valuable baroque terraces of the castle in Zákupy in the Českolipsko region will involve the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ), the Liberec Region, and the town. On the occasion of the International Day of Monuments and Sites, their representatives today signed a memorandum of cooperation directly at the terraces in the Zákupy park. The Liberec Region has committed to contribute ten million crowns for project preparation, Zákupy will add one million, and the NPÚ will secure funding for the terrace restoration estimated at 100 million crowns, said NPÚ Director Naděžda Goryczková to ČTK.

According to Goryczková, similar co-financing for the restoration of monuments is not common. "Of course, in terms of heritage oversight and the implementation of professional heritage care, we cooperate very intensively with the regions, but it is not so often that funding for the restoration of a state property is supported by the regions. In fact, we are usually excluded from grant projects; however, in this case, it is even more unique because it is actually a triple funding, and I see enormous strength and great benefits in that," added the NPÚ director.

The terraces in the castle garden in Zákupy are a unique example of the Italian garden style in Bohemia, but their current condition is critical. The biggest threat is static disruption and a collapse of the vault underground. The area is also threatened by advanced degradation of the sculptural decoration, non-functional historical water features, and long-term vandalism. "We decided to help with the project documentation, and the other party, namely the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ), will ensure funding for the construction," added Deputy Governor Květa Vinklátová (Mayors for the Liberec Region).

The Zákupy Castle is a national cultural monument and one of the most valuable monuments in the Liberec Region. According to Goryczková, it is a unique example of an imperial residence in the Czech Republic. Although there are more residences belonging to the House of Habsburg in the Czech Republic, only a few are accessible, and those that are, such as Prague Castle, represent rather different periods. The present form of Zákupy mainly refers to the second half of the 19th century when Ferdinand I the Benevolent lived there. The decoration was created by painter Josef Navrátil.

The castle complex has been among the most neglected, and over the past ten years, the NPÚ has invested nearly 470 million crowns in it. The largest investment was the recently completed restoration of the southern part of the farmyard with baroque stables for 374 million; preparations for the restoration of another part of the yard are now underway. Zákupy's castle steward Vladimír Tregl believes that the stables and, after restoration, the baroque terraces will attract filmmakers and will be a valuable source of income for the monument. "Once the terraces are repaired, functional, and water flows from them, filmmakers will come here to shoot the garden of the Versailles Palace, because it will be cheaper than in Versailles," he noted.

The memorandum establishes shared funding for the project. The Liberec Region will contribute five million crowns each year in the current and next year, and Zákupy will add one million. "These funds are intended for project documentation and engineering preparation," said Vinklátová. The NPÚ will ensure funding and the actual construction and restoration work. The preparation of the documentation will take two years; if everything goes well, the restoration of the terraces could be completed in 2030.