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Description
The revitalization of the synagogue in Budyně nad Ohří is based on the restoration of the original form and meaning of the synagogue according to the preserved historical sources, which is currently in a state of disrepair, with the threat of total destruction.
The synagogue was built in the first half of the 18th century as a wooden building, which was rebuilt into a brick with elements of Classicism and Rococo. The building has not been restored to this day, and there are serious static failures, such as deformation of the ceiling and walls, skewing of the perimeter wall. The building is currently closed to the public.
The realization of the project will provide static securing of the building incl. realization of building modifications, masonry remediation and completion of women''s gallery incl. Pair of wooden columns. Furthermore, the tabernacle will be created incl. stage and all elements visible from historical photographs, including the addition of floor layers and the basic furniture of the synagogue. The interior will be restored historical paintings, including. lining.
The exterior will be renewed facade, restoration of window, door lining and fillings, roofing and staircase will be replaced. The project will also include the construction of emergency social facilities and a minor adjustment of external areas incl. entrance to the cellar.
The aim of the project is to revitalize the monument as a whole and return it to its appearance and function for religious and cultural purposes.
The project is implemented in partnership with the Norwegian partner. The partner provides expert consultations in the preparation of the restoration of furniture and other antique objects, followed by seminars on the topic of reconstruction of real estate in the Czech Republic and Norway in order to share good experience.
Summary of project results
The goal of the project was to save the synagogue from the 18th century, valued for its architectural, cultural and social value, from impending irreversible destruction. Thanks to the overall revitalization, it is open, for the first time since World War 2, to the public and used in a dignified, meaningful way for public. The challenge was the coordination of all the work, implemented in 4 stages, within the framework of 2 contracts, financed from EEA Grants, the city budget and Ministry of Culture.
During the reconstruction, serious static disturbances were removed, such as deformation of the ceiling and walls, buckling of the perimeter wall. Overall, the facade, masonry, windows, doors, and roofing were restored. In the interior, the destroyed floors and furniture were reconstructed. The tabernacle with the podium was restored; and also the women''s gallery - the main part of the permanent exhibition is now located there. The historically valuable paintings in the interior were artistically restored. Everything was done in accordance with contemporary sources and supervised by preservationists. Another goal are steps towards sustainable and self-sufficient management, this is related to the presentation of the synagogue and its revitalization. The public was continuously informed, on the website, social networks, in the media. During the project, a number of accompanying cultural events took place. Thanks to the digitalization of the monument, the public can take a virtual online tour.
The project fulfilled its purpose and returned the synagogue to public life in a restored original architectural form. The city thereby fulfilled its obligation to the public to save the dilapidated building and offer the revitalized premises to the public for use. The public thus gained a beautiful space for exhibitions, concerts, lectures and other activities. A few days after the opening, first concert was held in the synagogue and almost 400 visitors visited it during the first 2 months.
The main importance of the project lies in the rescue, restoration, preservation and development of cultural heritage. The most important contribution, next to the comprehensive construction and restoration of a dilapidated building in a state of disrepair is restoration of the synagogue''s function and importance in public space. Thanks to the project, the interest of visitors is started, which will contribute to economic self-sufficiency in the long term.
Summary of bilateral results
The project involved cooperation with the Norwegian partner "Martin Funda Stil Service", which works in the field of restoration of furniture and monuments in the donor country.The cooperation enabled consultations between the beneficiary and the partner as well as with the professional public in both cooperating countries. In the framework of the cooperation, the beneficiary and the partner shared examples of good practice, the experience and knowledge transferred were verified in practice, and field trips were conducted. The beneficiary and the partner shared their experiences of heritage conservation practices in the Czech Republic/Norway, exchanged knowledge from practice in their home countries, compared similar experiences vs. possible differences in heritage conservation systems. Thanks to the Norwegian partner, the results of the project were also presented outside the Czech Republic.