In Kutná Hora, the reconstruction of the gardens of the Jesuit College will begin

Prague/Kutná Hora - On Thursday, the reconstruction of the gardens in the premises of the Jesuit College, adjacent to the famous Gothic Church of St. Barbara, will be initiated in Kutná Hora. If everything goes according to plan, in a year the gardens will feature an artificial pond, water stairs, and a theater stage located directly on the water. The estimated costs of the reconstruction have been set by the region at 94.5 million crowns, said Central Bohemian Governor David Rath (Social Democrats) at a press conference following a meeting of the regional council today.
The regional council considers the newly initiated construction in the gardens of the Jesuit College to be its flagship project. "It is rarely that any political representation gets the opportunity to reshape a relatively large area in the middle of a historical city, which is a UNESCO heritage site," Rath told reporters.
Once the reconstruction is completed, citizens of the city and tourists will be able to walk directly from the Church of St. Barbara into the gardens. The project is specifically aimed at tourists. "The space should be opened to citizens. It should help increase tourism within the Central Bohemian Region as well as in Kutná Hora," Rath stated.
The project includes the restoration of a Baroque villa located in the middle of the garden. Future exhibitions are planned to be held there. For example, there will be an exhibition of Kutná Hora winemaking connected with a wine archive and tasting opportunities. According to Rath, the artificial pond will be surrounded by a theater stage. The region will negotiate with theaters to see if they would like to establish a summer stage there. "We were inspired, for example, by the Prague Castle and their Shakespearean festivals," Rath explained. He believes the space of the Jesuit College is as significant for Kutná Hora as Prague Castle is for the capital.
The garden plans were created by architect Jiří Krejčík, who has previously completed numerous renovations of important historical buildings. His concept for the gardens includes, among other things, a café or a riding hall.
The Central Bohemian Region has also recently begun the reconstruction of the castle in Roztoky near Prague. The repairs of the original fortress from the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries are estimated to cost about 78 million crowns. Similar to the gardens in Kutná Hora, the facility is expected to be opened to the public next autumn. According to Rath, the region will cover most of the costs from grants, with the remainder being paid from its own budget. He mentioned that a total of 520 million has been allocated in European funds for similar projects.
The reconstruction of the castle in Buštěhrad, the revitalization of the former military complex in Ralsko, and the aviation museum in Mladá Boleslav will also be funded from the same budget, Rath listed.