"Handing over the castle Ministry of Culture, the National Heritage Institute or consider the right step. The National Park Šumava is in fact an organization that is primarily concerned with the protection of nature. Care of historic buildings, which are national cultural monument, as is currently the castle Vimperk belongs to another authority, just NPÚ. I think that each of these institutions in this country has its role, and accordingly should behave, "explains the director of Šumava Pavel Lean.
Nevertheless, the administration of the National Park Sumava on building the castle, which was initially the seat of administration Šumava NP, complete more than 23 years of care. For example, from 2008 to 2014 invested in Vimperk castle more than 19 million in operating costs and investments.
"We left the castle fell into disrepair, while we tried to lock all the time to maintain and repair. For example, in the nineties, we had it repaired roofs, chimneys, then we cleaned the cellars, which were full of garbage, we repaired the retaining walls, the floors in some rooms. We left handle various archaeological surveys, mycological surveys and we are constantly correcting what survived or were broken, whether plaster, windows, wiring, etc., "cites the NP spokesman Jan Dvořák.
National Heritage Institute already has a lock ambitious plans. Under the leadership of the new warden Vojtěcha Brooches first carry out a complete revision of the state of the whole area and provides short and long term challenges relating to the repair, restoration and cultural use of the castle. The aim is to build a multipurpose cultural and conference center in the lower castle, continue to operate the palace museum and the upper castle to create a standard tour route.
"This year we would like to start the restoration of the national team in the lower hall of the castle and we want to prepare a project operating facilities hall and its functional interface with the garden," says director NPÚ ÚPS in Czech Budejovice Petr Pavelec. When will the financial situation of the National Heritage Institute well, will be gradual revitalization of the castle take about eight years.
"I am convinced that the lock is in the hands of the most competent. However we are ready at any time to help colleagues from the NHI and of course we will be happy if the castle remains, or will develop mention of the National Park and Protected Landscape Area. Management is due to archaeological surveys, conducted here, revealed a conserved real historical unique. So I think this short stage in the existence of the castle, certainly not insignificant for his future, "concludes Pavel Lean.
History of Castle Vimperk:
The establishment of the Vimperk castle occurred in the 2nd half of the 13th century. The oldest known written record was preserved from 1263, when it was important documents listed among the witnesses Purkart of Vimperka. Housing development under the castle was established in the 13th and 14th centuries, and since the late 14th century, the castle belonged to noblemen Sulevice. From the late 14th century, the castle and estate Kaplíř Sulevice. In 1470 he represented imprisoned Petra Kaplíř his nephew Vaclav Vlcek pricing. From this period comes fortification Hazelburk, alterations and name Vlckova towers. April 24, 1479 exalted King Vladislav Jagiello Vimperk city. In 1494, bequeathed childless Petr Kaplíř estate Zdenek Lords of Chýnova, in 1554 bought Vimperk and the surrounding villages Joachim of Hradec, sold it in 1554 to Wilhelm von Rosenberg, who in 1565 promoted him to Petr Vok. In 1601, he bought Vimperk Volf Novohradský Kolovraty. In 1630 he sold the estate commission indebted Johann Ulrich von Eggenberg, after extinction of the family in 1719, inherited the estate Schwarzenberg family. In the 16th and early 17th century castle was rebuilt the castle, was built a new comfortable seat - the lower castle with arcades in Renaissance style. In the years 1728 - 1734 was rebuilt the lower castle in baroque style. The last extensive reconstruction of the castle to its present form was made after 1857, this year after a lightning strike chateau burned.
In 1948 he moved into the mansion owned by the city and in 1991 the castle was bought Ministry of Environment.
Source: tz NP Šumava.cz
Photo: Wikimedia.org