Brantice - Brantice, Slezské Rudoltice and Dívčí Hrad, Bruntal region, let the Ministry of Health know that that they are not interested in the chateaux worth millions CZK.
They are not likely to accept the state's offer to buy the chateaux. First, they think it is not necessary; second, they would have a hard time to find the money for them.
When the ministry included three chateaux close to Osoblaha among the seventeen unneeded store buildings offered for sale, the mayors raised voice of protest.
They had been negotiating on the ownership of the chateaux with ministry for more than five years. Now they are allegedly controlled by Cyprus-based developers.
Brantice and Dívčí Hrad are on offer for three million CZK and Slezské Rudoltice for four and a half million CZK. "This is not enough, the chateaux are worth much more," the mayors agreed.
However, now they do not want their municipalities´ highlights even for this "little" money. Despite the fact that the chateaux are really offered deeply below cost, as Aktuálně.cz found out, the municipalities with several hundreds of inhabitants and budgets of mere millions of CZK could hardly find the money needed.
They decided to outwit the ministry. They want the chateaux for free on the basis of historical documents and public interest.
Either restitution or voluntary conveyance
As fast as possible and with a decent profit. This is how the ministry wanted to get rid of the unnecessary store buildings including three chateaux.
However, hurrying up, the ministry did not check the claims of historical owners. In fact, none of the chateaux probably belongs to the state.
One could be returned to the Knights of Malta and two to the municipalities within a restitution.
In Brantice and Slezské Rudoltice, historical documents proving that the real estates belonged to the municipalities prior to 1945 were found.
At the beginning of the week, Slezské Rudoltice Mayor Martina Jalamasová notified Health Crisis State Consolidation that the municipality claims the chateau as its historical property.
According to the Land Register Office, the claim is justified. Only the approval of the current user, Health Crisis State Consolidation, is missing.
If this organisation does not admit Slezské Rudoltice's claim, the municipality will turn to court. Brantice is proceeding similarly.
As soon as we have the user's approval, we can apply for registration as a legal owner. Otherwise we will turn to court. The three million purchase is the worst variant," Brantice Mayor Vlastimil Machů says.
"We are going to check the property relations and if the municipalities have credible proofs, we will relegate the chateaux to them," Health Ministry Spokesperson Tomáš Cikrt says commenting on Brantice's and Slezských Rudoltice's intent.
Knights complicate the situation
Both municipalities believe their claims will be confirmed. The situation of Dívčí Hrad is more complicated. The town cannot claim the chateau and moreover Mayor Mruzíková was notified by the ministry about the Knights of Malta´s claim of the chateau.
Any manipulation with the chateau is thus restricted by the Blocking Act which determinates that all the property originally owned by churches, religious orders or congregations cannot be assigned to other entities until the Restitution Act is passed.
Dívčí Hrad is now waiting how the situation with the Order of Malta develops. If the chateau is not returned to the Order, the municipality will apply for free right of exchange again.
"Unlike the ministry we believe the free right of exchange to be in the public interest," Mayor Božena Mruzíková explains.
If the chateau is returned to the Order, the mayor admits the possibility of co-operation with it.
"We may agree on using the chateau in a way benefiting both of us. However, I have not yet had a chance to speak with them about it," Mruzíková says.
