Brno's Špilberk Castle denied permanent glass roof by heritage officials

The National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) rejected a proposal to install a permanent glass roof over the inner courtyard of Špilberk Castle in Brno, saying it would fundamentally alter the monument’s appearance and atmosphere. Director of the institute’s Brno office, Zdeněk Vacha, stated that even a historically styled roof would be unacceptable.

The city’s Museum of Brno, which hosts concerts and summer Shakespeare festivals at the site, had planned a permanent covering but will now pursue a mobile, temporary shelter. Museum director Zbyněk Šolc said the decision was anticipated and that the lack of any roof forces event organizers to postpone or suspend programs. The museum hopes to have a temporary cover in place by the summer season of 2028, drawing on earlier design concepts created by architecture students at the Brno University of Technology.