Heritage protectors in Bečov receive Europa Nostra award

Becov nad Teplou, West Bohemia, Sept 17 (CTK) - The project of restoration and preservation of the Czech Becov Castle received the Europa Nostra European award Friday.

The unique Gothic castle should be open to the public in four to six years.

Moreover, the educational part of the project will offer a chance to see the development of architecture on concrete examples and the conservation methods applied to similar sights, Becov Castle warden Tomas Wizovsky told reporters during the award-giving ceremony.

The construction of the Becov Castle, part of a complex of two chateaux and a castle in Becov nad Teplou, started in the mid-14th century and major adjustments were made in the 16th century.

"It will be a certain textbook of architecture," said Miroslav Hanzl, one of the project authors.

Nadezda Goryczkova, general director of the National Heritage Institute, said the castle's reconstruction works are to cost some 30 million crowns in the following six years.

Culture Minister Jiri Besser (TOP 09) promised that his office would provide the sum.

Europa Nostra NGO Vice-president John Sell said the Becov project was awarded for a thoroughly prepared conservation that would preserve the original architectonic elements.

The castle is closed at present and it was exceptionally opened to the public for the first time in 400 years Friday on the occasion of the award-giving ceremony.

Becov is not the first Czech landmark to receive the Europa Nostra award. Since 2002 the Czech Republic has won eight such awards. However, the first was presented in the studies and research category.

($1=18.818 crowns)