for many centuries, the Czech and German speaking inhabitants of Nové Hrady lived together in peace, both wanting the city and surrounding region to prosper. This symbiosis was torn apart by the sad events of the 1930s, the Second World War that followed and the post-war situation. Contacts between people of various nationalities were cut off. No one can fully repair the damage and pain that were done.

Our oldest citizens still remember the good side of our common history and good relations between Czechs and Austrians. The experience of the middle-aged generation is marred by the war and the Iron Curtain which did not allow for international dialogue. Only our youngest generation is again free of prejudice when communicating with our neighbours. However, it impossible to talk only of what was good. That which was unpleasant must also be recalled, but without any finger-pointing. That is the only way to learn so that we don't repeat the same mistakes.

The Unraveling a Shared Heritage exhibition is one way to recall the history of The Nové Hrady region as well as the coexistence of Czech and German speaking inhabitants and the influence of other cultures. This exhibition is part of a project bearing the same name, jointly organized by the City of Nové Hrady, Böhmerwaldmuseum Vienna and University of South Bohemia.

Please accept our kind invitation to this exhibition, which aims to remove borders, barriers and mutual prejudice. We believe that the Unraveling a Shared Heritage exhibition and the other activities of our project will spur further joint events in Nové Hrady and the entire region and encourage others to recall the history of our city and the region which is our common home.