800 years of history have forged a landscape and a history with many stories to tell.

In the 13th century, Czech families invited Cistercian monks from various countries to found a monastery in the middle of nowhere, making it an already European project.

Five centuries later, the founders' abbey was revitalised by the Baroque architect Santini, earning part of the site the UNESCO label.

Following the closure of the mosastery by Joseph II, the site became family property. The Nazis and then the Communists confiscated it for 50 years. With the Velvet Revolution in 1990, the estate came back into the hands of its owners, who favoured sustainable management of its natural and historical heritage. They initiated a unifying project for the local communities, with international cultural, artistic and educational ambitions.

The open and unifying cultural project revolves around the questions posed by the site's many creators, the radical nature of their thinking and how they relate to contemporary society. Creation is thus a tool for activating communities, making them reflexive about their history and responsible for their future, while rediscovering a relationship with European and international thought.

The mission of Czech and international artists is unavoidable: to draw inspiration from the genius of the place and give it its contemporary face with the people who live there.

Motto: ‘A living society is a society that creates’ and ‘The past is the source of the future’.

Residencies

In collaboration with the Czech choreographic development centre SE.S.TA, the site hosts artists in residence, providing them with logistics and professional support: theoretical approach, coaching, meetings with experts from all fields.

The residencies are research-oriented and co-produce specific site projects, often open to local communities.

The project is based on movement arts: contemporary dance, new circus, movement theatre. Newly, classical music and its pedagogical and experimental branches are finding their place.

Three companies are being monitored and will be associated artists for three years.

The opening of the Creation Centre in the Vysočina region in 2026 will make it possible to accentuate the interdisciplinary aspect of the project.

The opening of the Vysočina Region Creation Centre in 2026 will enable the interdisciplinary aspect of the project to be emphasised and this new hub to host around a dozen cluster residencies a year, combining the approaches of artistic companies, the creative industry, universities and educational researchers in a professionally equipped venue.

Pedagogy and creation

Choreographers are responsible for ‘Danse à l'école’ projects and holiday camps. Creative children are invited to present their work alongside professionals. www.se-s-ta.cz

The KoresponDance festival showcases the artistic, social and educational work carried out throughout the year and invites artists from all over the world. Over ten countries are represented each year. They come from the world of contemporary movement: dance, circus, hip hop and hybrid genres.

For six days in mid-July, spread out over different sites in the region, the artists and communities bring the public space and non-dedicated venues to life. They meet an open, family-friendly and enthusiastic audience. The festival is the only contemporary arts venue in the region.

The festival includes an off programme: workshops for the public with the guest artists, moderated discussions, evening events, informal get-togethers, etc.

The KoresponDance festival has been awarded the EFFE European festival label.

A programme of classical and contemporary music, for which there is a need to develop audiences, is making its debut. It brings together Czech musicians and young people from the region for a series of 12 concerts, featuring talented amateurs supervised by professionals. International performance master classes are also held.

A tourist heritage site open all year round

Visitors can experience the genius of the Žďár estate through its immersive site museum, the New Generation Museum, created with a Franco-Czech team. Guided tours of this homogeneous and composite site complete the offer.

The Museum Accademy welcomes schools to discover history, science and ecology in an interactive way.

These programmes are also available for families at weekends and during the holidays.

Three festivals punctuate the year with themed and creative events linked to the site: Pumpkin Day, Easter and Advent Days.

The site offers visitors 4-star Bed & Breakfast accommodation (8 rooms and 4 flats for families), as well as a café and a shop.

A place for local life

The site lends itself to social celebrations, weddings, funerals, birthdays and corporate events.