The interview:
Life to the monuments and in the monuments
We must realize that the owners of buildings on the town-square are limited and influenced by recommendations of conservationists. Since 1992, there is a subsidy program of regeneration under way, which aims to compensate higher costs to the private owners of the real estate from the town budget. We provide financial means for reconstruction of surface components of buildings - for instance facades and windows - every year. In my opinion, this initiative is not an unnecessary expense, but an earnest approach of the town to its citizens.

The topic:
Monuments not only for books
The mayor offers a project of medieval village. No open-air museum and certainly not a theatre coulisse. The proposal is a part of the development plan and is subjected to the judgement of conservationists. This public-service building aims to lure more tourists and employ several tens of people, which is in this structurally weaker region badly needed. New handicrafts are on the verge of extinction and the project poses an opportunity to show how people used to live in the past, what tools did they use, how did they do their laundry, cooking and housekeeping. Traditional activities presented in the village - such as for instance fully functional ceramic workshop - are followed by other related services.

The opinion:
Milestones of reform
I am of the opinion that the decision about subsidies should belong to the communities with enhanced cognisance and not to the regions. Citizens won't have to complain at distant and unclear ministry or regional council; they will always come to the community council and its mayor.

The supplement:
The Alliance of historical settlements of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia; The Alliance for countryside renewal