Case study: The Life and Near Death of Jezeří Chateau Under the Czechoslovak Communist Regime: Difference between revisions
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The “takeover” of the chateau took place on 28 August without notifying the National Culture Commission and the State Monument Administration in a way that completely contradicted the principles of those institutions. The 100-member garrison simply occupied the chateau, threw what remained of the inventory into the chapel, and whitewashed the whole chateau in their own style, both in reality and figuratively. The Czechoslovak People’s Army tried to adapt the chateau grounds completely to its own needs. The interiors were destroyed, many rooms in the chateau were intentionally modified and the remaining furniture either stolen or destroyed. <ref name="jezeri"> History of the Chateau, official Jezeří Chateau website [http://www.zamek-jezeri.cz/history-of-the-chateau/post-war-history-the-start-of-the-downfall/]</ref> | The “takeover” of the chateau took place on 28 August without notifying the National Culture Commission and the State Monument Administration in a way that completely contradicted the principles of those institutions. The 100-member garrison simply occupied the chateau, threw what remained of the inventory into the chapel, and whitewashed the whole chateau in their own style, both in reality and figuratively. The Czechoslovak People’s Army tried to adapt the chateau grounds completely to its own needs. The interiors were destroyed, many rooms in the chateau were intentionally modified and the remaining furniture either stolen or destroyed. <ref name="jezeri"> History of the Chateau, official Jezeří Chateau website [http://www.zamek-jezeri.cz/history-of-the-chateau/post-war-history-the-start-of-the-downfall/]</ref> | ||
In 1955, the chateau was taken over by the Ministry of Interior. In line with a decision dated 9 January 1958, administration was delegated to the Ministry of Education and Culture, Monument Care Department. On 29 August 1958, the chateau was transferred to the State Monument Administration, and then in 1959 it was transferred to the Regional National Committee in Ústí nad Labem. At that time there was no security provided at Jezeří and the chateau was left exposed to vandals from 1960. From 1961 to 1972, the chateau was administered by the District National Committee in Most when the first project for reconstructing the building was drawn up. Its author was the Institute for Landscape Creation and Protection of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, which had responsibility for supporting Jezeří in its research programme. A further anticipated use of the chateau was to build an extensive recreational area of supra-regional importance, but it remained an idea only.[http://www.zamek-jezeri.cz/history-of-the-chateau/post-war-history-the-start-of-the-downfall/]</ref> | In 1955, the chateau was taken over by the Ministry of Interior. In line with a decision dated 9 January 1958, administration was delegated to the Ministry of Education and Culture, Monument Care Department. On 29 August 1958, the chateau was transferred to the State Monument Administration, and then in 1959 it was transferred to the Regional National Committee in Ústí nad Labem. At that time there was no security provided at Jezeří and the chateau was left exposed to vandals from 1960. From 1961 to 1972, the chateau was administered by the District National Committee in Most when the first project for reconstructing the building was drawn up. Its author was the Institute for Landscape Creation and Protection of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, which had responsibility for supporting Jezeří in its research programme. A further anticipated use of the chateau was to build an extensive recreational area of supra-regional importance, but it remained an idea only.<ref name="jezeri"> History of the Chateau, official Jezeří Chateau website [http://www.zamek-jezeri.cz/history-of-the-chateau/post-war-history-the-start-of-the-downfall/]</ref> | ||
From 1964, artistic-historic and structural research was undertaken under the oversight of Václav Mencl. The subsequent reconstruction by the Usti-based District Construction Enterprise, however, only led to the further devastation of the building. At the same time as the demolition of the unmaintained chaplain’s dwelling and kitchen annexes, the north-east wing of the chateau and the underlined buttress were seriously damaged, known these days as the oriel. This situation was continued like this for some time without any measure of security, and it is testimony to its solid and true construction that no other parts of the building fell apart. In 1967, the then administrator permitted further gross interference by the District Construction Enterprise from Ústí nad Labem by ripping up around 150 m² of parquet flooring, which was subsequently used at the chateau in Ploskovice. The District National Committee in Most reconstructed the gatehouse as a temporary dwelling for a guard, and in 1972 the chateau was transferred to the administration of the Regional Centre of State Monument Care and Nature Protection in Ústí nad Labem. Further reconstruction was therefore postponed indefinitely. The chateau administration at that time prohibited even normal maintenance from being carried out and justified neglecting the state of the chateau on the grounds of the ambiguous situation regarding the mining activities of the North Bohemian Lignite Mines.[http://www.zamek-jezeri.cz/history-of-the-chateau/post-war-history-the-start-of-the-downfall/]</ref> | From 1964, artistic-historic and structural research was undertaken under the oversight of Václav Mencl. The subsequent reconstruction by the Usti-based District Construction Enterprise, however, only led to the further devastation of the building. At the same time as the demolition of the unmaintained chaplain’s dwelling and kitchen annexes, the north-east wing of the chateau and the underlined buttress were seriously damaged, known these days as the oriel. This situation was continued like this for some time without any measure of security, and it is testimony to its solid and true construction that no other parts of the building fell apart. In 1967, the then administrator permitted further gross interference by the District Construction Enterprise from Ústí nad Labem by ripping up around 150 m² of parquet flooring, which was subsequently used at the chateau in Ploskovice. The District National Committee in Most reconstructed the gatehouse as a temporary dwelling for a guard, and in 1972 the chateau was transferred to the administration of the Regional Centre of State Monument Care and Nature Protection in Ústí nad Labem. Further reconstruction was therefore postponed indefinitely. The chateau administration at that time prohibited even normal maintenance from being carried out and justified neglecting the state of the chateau on the grounds of the ambiguous situation regarding the mining activities of the North Bohemian Lignite Mines.<ref name="jezeri"> History of the Chateau, official Jezeří Chateau website [http://www.zamek-jezeri.cz/history-of-the-chateau/post-war-history-the-start-of-the-downfall/]</ref> | ||
==The all-consuming desire for coal eats away at the chateau’s foundations== | ==The all-consuming desire for coal eats away at the chateau’s foundations== | ||