Renovated monastery and garden in Broumov to be opened in a ceremony

A ceremony of opening for the invited guests with a visit to the new rooms takes place on Wednesday 22 April at 2:30 PM in the Broumov Monastery premises. At 4 PM it is to continue with a programme open also for the public: preview of the exhibitions in Galerie Dům, a mass celebrated by Cardinal Dominik Duka, ceremonial speeches, benediction and a concert of Hradišťan in the new hall Dřevník in the monastery garden.

Especially the Doors Open Days on 25 and 26 April with a wide range of accompanying activities are intended for the public. “The visitors can have a look at the renovated rooms, can attend music or theatre performances, exhibitions, previews of the educational programmes or music and film workshops, they will also be able to try the new recording studio, an amusing quest, activities for children or tours of the monastery guided by Prior P. Prokop Siostrzonek, which will be preceded by a mass celebrated in the monastery church,” informed Dana Černotová from the Educational and Cultural Centre of the Broumov Monastery.

The Broumov Monastery was comprehensively reconstructed last year. The project was awarded a European subsidy of nearly CZK 250 million. The work was delivered by HOCHTIEF CZ.

“I am honoured that HOCHTIEF CZ could take part in reconstruction of this historic gem. The beautifully renovated monastery is a proof that we create not only new and modern buildings, but that we can also give a new life to our historic and cultural heritage. We find reconstruction of listed buildings one of our key skills and we have shown the quality of our work not only here, but also in other similar projects, among others, reconstruction of the Kuks Hospital or renovation of 11 historic buildings in Litomyšl, which are on the UNESCO list,” added Chairman of the Executive Board of HOCHTIEF CZ, Ing. Tomáš Bílek.

Approximately one fifth of the monastery building was repaired – it now houses new facilities that will be used mainly for educational and cultural activities. “This reconstruction is the coping stone of our activities, which started in 2004, when we were allowed to enter the monastery rooms with a first public event. The programme has been extended since then and the historic building has been taken care of, which has confirmed that a monastery can have the role of a cultural and social centre. This made it possible to apply for a subsidy to renovate the building and to establish the Educational and Cultural Centre of the Broumov Monastery,” said Jan Školník from the Agency for Development of the Broumov Region that is to operate the centre.

“In my opinion, the completed renovation of a part of the monastery is the first major step to the complex to be given a chance to be reconstructed in future as a whole and to live its own life. Agency for Development of the Broumov Region will hold various events here, which will revitalize not only the monastery, but also tourism in the Region of Hradec Králové. From my point of view, this is a crucial investment for the Broumov area,” added the governor of the Region of Hradec Králové Lubomír Franc.

Thanks to the renovation, a new recording studio, concert halls and classrooms were created in the monastery. It was necessary to install new wiring, plumbing and heating systems. The whole monastery garden with all its buildings was renewed as well. A multipurpose building called Dřevník was built there. The cook´s and gardener´s houses were repaired and so were Galerie Dům, fountain or memorial of Abbot Jakub Chmel. A historic skittle-ground is also shiny new – from the end of April it will be possible to have a game of skittles there. “The project has already been followed up by the second stage in which a Guest House is to be built in the former monastic cells. This lodging facility will make it possible to make maximum use the monastery rooms also to groups of travellers from further away,” concludes Jan Školník.  

The project of Educational and Cultural Centre Broumov – Renovation of the Monastery was co-funded from resources of the European Fund for Regional Development.