Description
The objective of this project is to stimulate economic development in the area of Horní Maršov (Hradec Králové Region) and to reduce economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area through (cultural) tourism by the restoration of the renaissance cemetery Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Horní Maršov. The project caps the overall renovation of the church and allows opening this major sight to public and to regain its status as regional cultural and information centre. With its potential in the area of public tourism the project will be mostly beneficial for Czech and foreign tourists. Increased number of visitors will be also a positive factor for the economy and could increase incomes of small and middle sized companies working in the field of business and services. The church constitutes altogether with a baroque rectory, 400-year old linden tree, a statue of St. John of Nepomuk, valuable gravestones and a tomb, an important historical and landscape unit. As the oldest surviving brick building in Krkonoše Mountains (1608) it was at a critical state of disrepair before the start of the renovation in 2004. During the project is planned to complete construction works and restore inner parts of the church including floors, tabernacle, altar and Baroque altarpieces sculptures. Moreover, the project strengthens bilateral relations between Czech Republic and Norway thanks to the cooperation with the Association for Employers in the Church of Norway. Partner from Norway will contribute to the project by its know-how in accessibility of the sacral monuments to disabled visitors by on spot consultations and a seminar o the topic.
Summary of project results
The conditions of the cemetery church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Horní Maršov, an important historical monument (the oldest surviving brick structure) in Krkonoše Mountains, were critical and a risk of total devastation of the building was imminent. Due to the poor conditions the church did not attract attention of a tourist visiting the region and could be used by the municipality for social events to the limited extend only. The salvation of the church began in 2004. The objective and the outcome of the project was to complete the complex renovation and rehabilitation this cultural heritage site which would protect the church, make it available for public (incl. persons with reduced mobility) and enable the site to meet religious and social functions. Achieved: Construction works (static, moisture and condensation of air improvement, salinity of walls elimination, restoration and preservation of wooden elements and the security ensuring of the object) and the restoration of inner parts of the church including floors, built-in joinery and Baroque altarpieces sculptures were carried out in conformity with the project documentation. The church has been opened to the public and serves as a local and regional cultural and information center (the first cultural event after the reconstruction was a ceremony opening of the church together with a concert inside the church). Outputs delivered: Construction works at the building Outside staircase reconstruction Restoration of inside equipment (sculptures, tabernacle, altar and its decorative components, pulpit) Installation of CCTV The target groups benefiting from the project’s outputs are locals as the project increases touristic attractiveness of the municipality and the region, tourists and general public for whom the church was made available and disabled persons as barrier free access to the site was improved in collaboration with the Norwegian project partner (see Summary of bilateral results).
Summary of bilateral results
The project was implemented in partnership with two Czech institutions (both were project promoters within the Programme CZ06) and one Norwegian partner. The Norwegian partner was The Association of Church Employers (KA). The partnership was created through the mediation of Riksantikvaren. The KA is Norwegian non-governmental, non-profit organization that represents church legal entities, including central, regional, municipal and local organizations. The Association negotiate with the government about the major issues of the functioning of church institutions, their support from the state budget, tax policy and their share of the education system, social and cultural politics. It has delegated authority in representing church institutions even during major foreign activities. One of the long-term projects of the KA is making church monuments accessible to people with reduced mobility and perception. This issue became also a cornerstone of the project partnership and the project activities were based on an exchange of know-how between the partners involved. At the beginning of the project implementation the KA experts visited the project site, the church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Horní Maršov, in order to inspect and evaluate its accessibility for disabled. Besides, a workshop focused on the issue of culture heritage monuments accessibility along with preparatory works for a final seminar took place. The results of the evaluation at the beginning of the project and the follow-up workshop together with the ways how the Norwegian Church organizations increase accessibility of their monuments for disabled visitors were presented during a joint seminar “Religious monuments (almost) without barriers”. The joint seminar was the main partnership activity opened to various relevant stakeholders. According to the participant lists 54 representatives of the target audience (representatives of church organizations, the National Heritage Institute, the state administration and self-government) participated at the seminar. On the following day after the seminar, a final inspection tour of the KA experts was organized. Both experts of the KA express their satisfaction as for the project outcomes and made use of the opportunity to discuss project promoter’s practices with reconstruction, rehabilitation and restoration of (church) culture heritage monuments.