The Hereditas Award of the Hradec Králové Region was also won by the fund for the renovation of Villa Čerych

This year, the Královéhradecký region awarded the Hereditas obligat prize for the preservation of monuments for the renovation of Čerych Villa in Česká Skalice in the Náchod area and the rescue of a cross in the Orlické Mountains. The award for longtime efforts in the conservation of historical buildings was given to Jan Chaloupský. The Hereditas obligat awards, translated as heritage obliges, were presented by regional representatives at a ceremony in the Bělohrad granary in Lázně Bělohrad.

The Hereditas Obligat prize is awarded in four categories, with the winner of each receiving 50,000 crowns. Nominations can be submitted by anyone in accordance with competition rules on the official nomination lists.

In the category of restoration of a protected building, the region awarded the Kaplicky Centre Foundation for the renovation of the rondocubist Čerych Villa in Česká Skalice, which was made famous by the film Odcházení directed by Václav Havel. The house, surrounded by a garden designed by Josef Kumpán, was built in the 1920s based on the project of architect Otakar Novotný as a wedding gift from entrepreneur Ladislav Bartoně Dobenína to his niece Marie and her husband Jiří Čerych. The family lived there until 1948, after which the villa was used for various purposes.

According to the region, the aim of the foundation was not only the restoration of the cultural monument but primarily its reintegration into community life. The renovation of the villa began in January 2024, and the builders completed it last August and received occupancy approval in September. The villa now houses educational, exhibition, and conference rooms, a multifunctional hall, and accommodation.

In the category of rescuing unlisted monuments, the region awarded the Heritage Rescue Foundation for the repair of a 19th-century cross in the Orlické Mountains featuring a figure of the crucified Christ. "The last reminder of the long-gone homes of the ancient German inhabitants of the village of Bělá was saved almost at the last minute. The sculptural work, probably established on the initiative of the Biedermann family from house No. 65, was raised again on a new base. The missing cross was replaced and adorned with a cast-iron figure of the crucified Christ," stated the regional government.

For the popularization of heritage care, the regional award was given to court expert and consultant of the National Heritage Institute Jan Chaloupský. He has dedicated over 30 years to the restoration of historical buildings. He was instrumental, for example, in saving the Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Pilníkov in the Trutnov region, a steel bridge from the late 19th century in Kuks, or designing a permanent roof for the ruins of Vízmburk Castle in the Náchod area.

Last year, the Hereditas obligat award was given to married couple Anna and Adam Smékal for saving the rectory in Martínkovice in the Broumov area. The award was also received by the Roman Catholic Parish of Všestary in the Královéhradeck region for repairing altars and the pulpit in Neděliště and the management of Nové Město nad Metují in the Náchod area for the reconstruction of U Zázvorky Street in the historical center of the town. The region awarded the Club of Military History Náchod for the popularization of heritage care.