Introductory text for EHD 2010 from president of The Association of Historical Settlements in Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia

This year again, hundreds of historic buildings will be open all over the Czech Republic, which will thus traditionally join the European monuments day. These monuments are not just castles and chateaux, or churches, museums, and open air sites. They include many historic buildings which still serve their purpose, or which have found new use. Many of these buildings are normally closed to visitors and are opened only exceptionally.

The programme of the 2010 European Heritage Days (EHD) offers also an inexhaustible number of fringe events and municipal festivals, and also in traditional tourist destinations invites visitors to sites normally closed, enlivens tours with cultural programmes, and also gives an insight into the problems of reconstruction or the refurbishment of certain historic jewels.

The theme of this year’s European Heritage Days in the Czech Republic is “The Soul of Monuments”. Our Association chose this theme to show that monuments are more than inanimate articles and structures, that they have their own rich history and are linked with many personalities and happenings of yore, and that it is worthwhile to reflect upon historic events of the times when they already existed. The present days are very hectic and incredibly rich in events, but which of them will be interesting enough for our posterity to remember? Which of them will leave a trace on the physical state of monuments? And which of them will leave a trace on their soul?

I wish EHD 2010 organisers and visitors delightful moments spent at our monuments and historic towns. I trust that this year’s EHD, too, will be a pleasant surprise to many people, and that you will be enchanted by monuments and will visit them also on other occasions. After all, this is the purpose of this monuments day.

Petr Sedláček
President of the SHS CMS