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The ceramic furnaces, candelabras and the "four seasons" statues set will be removed for restoration, said Kálmán Varga, director of the National Monument Preservation Agency. The parquet will be removed so the beams underneath the floor can be reinforced. The strength of the beams have limited capacity of the concerts to 110-120 visitors, Varga explained. Thanks to the discovery of a piece of the original parquet under the pedestal of a statue, the new parquet will bear the design of the palace's original flooring, he added.
From the start of October, the conversion of the palace's courtyard into a park will start. The area, now covered with fine pebbles, will be planted with grass and flowers. It is hoped the fountains on the sides off the courtyard can be repaired.
Restoration of baroque murals uncovered around the grand staircase will also start.
The palace will remain open to visitors during the entire restoration, although tours may involve detours, such as a hidden spiral staircase, Varga said.
The first phase of investments at the palace, which involves the renovation of the south façade, the reconstruction of the roof of the puppet theatre and the construction of a parking lot, is expected to be completed in 2011. The government made the HUF 1.6 billion of investments a priority project in 2007, allowing European Union funding to be used to cover 90 percent of the cost of the project.
In the second phase of investments, a Chinese room will be recreated, and the puppet theatre and the former home of the stable master will be renovated. The palace park will be expanded and two smaller gardens renovated. A reception centre will be built for the palace, but will also serve as a tourism information centre for the entire region.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
