At the Hrádek castle near Nechanice, they are repairing the plaster

Hrádek u Nechanic - The Neo-Gothic Castle Hrádek u Nechanic in the Hradec Králové region is preparing for the season. Restorers are working there, plaster repairs are underway, and staff are preparing exhibits. If the epidemic situation allows, the monument is ready to open immediately. Martin Rejman, the castle's curator, told ČTK this. The castle is managed by the National Heritage Institute.

"Although the situation does not indicate that we should open in the coming days, we are not idle; work is ongoing at 125 percent," Rejman said. The castle staff are cleaning, preparing exhibits, and continuing restoration work and repairs.

In the castle building, a plasterer is repairing the internal plaster on the corridors. "At the end of last year, we completed the first phase of these restorations, which involved repairing the stucco plaster in the entrance hall. The plasterer is now moving to the eastern part of the corridor, where he is supplementing the non-cohesive layer of the internal plasters, which can also be referred to as sgraffito," Rejman told ČTK. The total costs for both phases of the plaster repairs should not exceed 80,000 crowns.

There are also plans to repair the castle's outer facade, which is being repaired gradually. If funds are available, they would like to start repairs this year. This would involve the upper part of the middle tower, known as the Cardinal Tower. "This is our wish, but the finances do not suggest it at the moment. After discussing the budget, we know that this year, especially due to the COVID situation, the financial resources will be very limited," Rejman told ČTK.

The castle Hrádek u Nechanic has been severely affected by the coronavirus crisis. The coronavirus pandemic erupted in the Czech Republic last spring and continues to this day. Monuments were closed for several months last year due to government measures. The castle recorded a drop in visitor numbers of almost half, which corresponded to a significant decline in revenue.

"While our castle is visited by an average of up to 40,000 people a year, last year the numbers were only around 23,000. Since 1989, last year represented the lowest visitor numbers at our castle," Rejman said.

The castle Hrádek u Nechanic is heavily reliant on traditional public events, most of which did not take place last year due to the pandemic. Therefore, the easing of measures last summer did not significantly improve the castle's financial situation.

"The summer season was relatively strong, but in our case, it was comparable to the year 2019. While more people did come for tours, the lack of events balanced it out to the average. We rely on major events like Easter or Christmas at the castle, which did not take place. For instance, the traditional castle festivities were also canceled," Rejman said.

Hrádek u Nechanic was built between 1839 and 1857 by František Arnošt, Count of Harrach, as his representative and summer residence in the style of Tudor Gothic. The current castle exhibition showcases the lifestyle of nobility in the second half of the 19th century in original historic furnishings.