In Mladějovice Fortress, located on the border of the Strakonice and Písek districts, history meets modern culture and creativity. Built in 1467, the fortress has undergone extensive reconstruction by the Durych family. In 2009, they decided to save the ruinous monument and turn it into a vibrant cultural centre.

 

Fortress with a rich history

This original late Gothic fortress was rebuilt in the Renaissance style in 1580 and decorated with sgraffiti. In the past it changed hands frequently, but it has always been a local economic centre, together with the adjacent farmhouse and manor house. In modern history, it underwent an insensitive reconstruction in 1921. It also had its bad times in the second half of the twentieth century, when during socialism it served the local agricultural cooperative, among other things, there were service apartments. The fortress began to decay and in 2006 it was in a disastrous state. The roofs were caved in and the statics were disturbed, one third of the fortress was completely collapsed, the staircase and the pavilion were fallen down.

 

The Mladějovice fortress after an extensive reconstruction

In 2009, the Durychs discovered the fortress and decided to launch into its rescue and extensive reconstruction. This was completed this year, also thanks to the support of the EEA Grants.

Events for the public - Mladějovice Fortress

Space for young talents

One of the main goals of the fortress restoration, besides saving the cultural monument, is to create a space where young artists can present their talent and be creative. In the fortress, a recording studio, an audiovisual workshop, a stage, a dance hall and a cinema have been created. "We want to give young people the opportunity to create and present their art, which is often neglected in the Czech Republic," says the proprietor Bernard Durych. He says it's a pity that young people, even though many of them attend primary schools, often have no place to show off their art. And because they often do not have the opportunity to meet, the fortress has been used as a space suitable also for primary art schools. The name of the place (which carries the word Mladý - Young in it) fits perfectly with its purpose and the young have an open door in Mladějovice.

Festival of Arts and Crafts - Youth in Arts - "Mladfest 2024" - a new tradition of art presentation in Strakonice region

A rediscovered place where culture and art come alive

The fortress regularly hosts events for the public. Locals and people from the surrounding area come here, but tourists also find their way here. In April, for example, the festival of crafts and art "Youth in Art - Mladfest 2024" took place here, where young artists from various parts of South Bohemia came to present their art. In addition to dance and music performances by elementary art schools, the festival also featured a band Osečanka from the Home for Persons with Disabilities in Osek. In other areas of the fortress, visitors could admire the gallery with the artworks of the Strakonice Art School or watch student films of the Film Academy of Miroslav Ondříček in Písek. Other popular events at the fortress include the Easter wicker-weaving (note: Czech tradition - knitting "pomlázka" from willow wicker), board game championships, music nights, craft fairs and many other cultural and community gatherings.

Presentation of arts and crafts - Youth in Arts Festival "Mladfest 2024"

The efforts of the Durychs and the support of the EEA Grants are bearing fruit. "We are happy that even the ancient residents are beginning to perceive that saving the fortress makes sense. We want the fortress to become a cultural centre that will serve not only the local population but also the general public," says Bernard Durych. "I hope that this place will continue to develop and more and more will be known about the site. It is a beautiful space," adds Martina Spišská, director of the Strakonice Primary School of Arts.

Bernard Durych, project promotter of "Rekonstrukce tvrze Mladějovice"

If you are passing by Mladějovice, be sure to stop and look around.

The Reconstruction of Mladějovice fortress was implemented under the Culture Programme and financed by the EEA Grants.

More about EEA Grants

More about Culture Programme

Project web site: www.tvrzmladejovice.cz

 

Název projektu:	Rekonstruction of Mladějovice fortress
Project promoter:	Občanské sdružení pro záchranu a konzervaci kulturní památky Panský dvůr a bývalé tvrze Mladějovice (Civic Association for the Rescue and Conservation of the Cultural Monument Panský dvůr and the former Mladějovice Fortress)
Partneři projektu:	Skyhoyt live scene (NOR) Elementary School of Arts, Strakonice, Kochana z Prachové 263 Roman Catholic Parish, Strakonice Home for people with disabilities, Osek
Programme:	Culture
Grant:	20 653 121 CZK
Project objective:	The aim of the project is to save the property, to present and promote it, and to use it for public cultural and other activities. The purpose of all activities is to prevent the destruction of the cultural monument and irreversible loss of cultural value, to make it accessible, to support cultural development and promotion.