You're a real estate investor seeking that perfect medieval castle, mining museum or ballet theatre in the heart of Europe? Look no farther than belt-tightening Slovakia.
Budget cuts have prompted the Slovak government to offer for sale any of dozens of cultural sites for as little as 1 koruna (US$0.03).
The investment offers range from part of the elaborate although unfinished Slovak National Theatre complex in the heart of Bratislava to an unusual stone tower that looms above the 13th century Slanec Castle in the country's far east.
Most of the real estate is being offered by the Slovak Monuments Board, PUSR, which oversees nearly 13,000 historic buildings.
About 80 items are listed on the latest PUSR directory of real estate for sale. Nine of those properties, mainly historic chateaux, have been contracted for sale in the past year.
Separately, the Ministry of Culture is studying several options for the national theatre. A modern ballet and drama addition to the existing, 19th century structure has been under construction for 18 years, costing the government and private donors about 3.4 billion koruna.
But so far parliament has balked at the ministry's request for the 800 million koruna needed to finish the project.
"Selling at least a share of the building to an investor from foreign or domestic financial and business circles is currently one of the solutions being discussed by the government," said ministry spokeswoman Nora Slovakova.
For some properties, potential investors would have to patiently untangle legal knots tied to the complications of the post-communist transition.
Others would be required to use the structure or rebuild it in ways that conform to local government rules.
For example, Viglas village officials are willing to sell the famous Viglas Castle and its hilltop forest for a mere 1 koruna.
But the investor must spend about 100 million koruna for renovations.
Investors also might consider the risk of getting involved in controversies that have divided communities.
In Banska Bystrica, a plan to sell the Slovak National Uprising memorial has inflamed local passions -- and so far yielded little interest from investors. The memorial and museum were completed in 1969 to commemorate a rebellion against the Nazis in World War II.
Similarly, Bratislava's art community has been in an uproar for months over the proposal to sell the national theatre.
Parliament was expected to make a final decision by the end of December.
Nevertheless, PUSR officials say most of the properties on their for sale list are genuine treasures just waiting for a new owner.
Some chateaux come with formal gardens, and some castles have their own forests.
The list includes crumbling but amazing stone castles in Nitra, Zilina and Kosice areas as well as a mining museum in Gelnice.
Although the information is only in Slovak, the PUSR has posted details, diagrams and photos on the Internet at www.pamiatky.sk. The agency also has a CD ready to mail to potential investors.
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