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The association was established on 2. 12. 2013 in order to protect and preserve this precious historical monument, i. e. the sculptural group and relief of Braun's Nativity created in the period of baroque right in the wild nature in the rocks of New Forest close to the town Dvůr Králové nad Labem.
Because the attempts of state institutions fail to bring the expected results in a long run, the association has set for itself following two goals:
To set conditions for joint coordination of restoration and regular maintenance of the original sculptures and reliefs in New Forest. The major task of maintenance is to ensure regular spraying preventing moss, which keeps build up and destroys this work of art.
To measure and scan the restored Braun's Nativity into a 3D model and then create replicas of the statues and the sculptural relief in original size. The replicas would be safely stored for the benefit of future generations. It is recommended to keep the originals in their location, since they are an inseparable part of nature and it is not possible to exchange them for replicas.
Prof. JUDr. Ignác Antonín Hrdina, DrSc., O. Praem.
Johan Dendorfer, president of UN–FOE–PRAE
Jan Schwarz, editor of the periodical Vlastivědné čtení
Website of association contains information from following references:
T. Halík: Hrabě František Antonín Sporck a Kuks za jeho doby; Printing Karel Trohoř – issued by the Club of Czech Tourists. Dvůr Králové nad Labem 1905.
Dr. J. Kropáček: Kuks a Betlém na Královédvorsku; Publishing house of Pavel Körbr. Prague 1921.
Jaromír Neumann, Josef Prošek: Matyáš Braun – Kuks; National publishers of literature, music and art. Prague 1959.
Pavel Preiss: Boje s dvoulhlavou saní; Vyšehrad. Prague 1981.
Jiří Kaše, Petr Kotlík: Braunův Betlém; Paseka. Prague and Litomyšl 1999.
Emanuel Poche: Matthias Bernhard Braun monografie; Herausgegeben von Hans Jäger. Studienverlag. Innsbruck 2003.
Gemeindeblatt Sautens – Weinachtsausgabe 2012 – page 21.
Mr. Ludwig's Auer archive the chronicler of Sautens village.
Archive of Association Braun's Nativity Scene.
Cutout paper nativity scene
Thanks to the cut-out, you can now assemble the Braun's Nativity Scene yourself (dimensions approx. 70 x 27 x 21 cm). It is not known how the angels were placed in the cloud vault, so everyone can put together the arrangement of angels and clouds according to their imagination. A glued paper nativity scene can also be folded like an accordion for approx. 45 x 20 x 7 cm. The angel Gloria just slides in.
Braunův Betlém slaví 300 let
Špork a Krakonoš se potkají v Braunově Betlémě, oslaví 300 let od jeho založení Dne 18. srpna si připomeneme 300 let od založení Braunova Betléma. Oslava to bude velkolepá: pomocí živých obrazů a divadelních scének přímo v Braunově Betlémě se návštěvníci vrátí do doby hraběte Šporka. Tehdy, před 300 lety, se začalo v čerstvě zakoupeném Novém lese u Dvora Králové s budováním pousteven sv. Pavla a sv. Antonína, které byly základem Braunova Betléma, díla M. B. Brauna. Postavy v dobových kostýmech zahrají scénky z tehdejší doby. Na hodinové trase se bude odehrávat v kulisách Braunova Betléma několik divadelních zastavení. Do Braunova Betléma přijde podívat i Krakonoš, aby si spolu s hrabětem Šporkem připomenul ještě další výročí z roku 1729 kdy se hrabě Špork nechal i s křížem vynést na vrchol Sněžky. Vstupné: 120 Kč, děti zdarma Místo konání: Braunův Betlém u Kuksu (vstup od parkoviště u Hřibojed) Datum konání: 18. srpna od 14 do 17 hod. Prodej vstupenek: od 10. do 17. srpna v informačních centrech v Kuksu, Trutnově, Jaroměři a Dvoře Králové, Hotelu Pod Zvičinou, Lavender Kuks v den konání jen přímo v Kuksu (Lavender Kuks, informační centrum v Kuksu) přímo na místě
Purchase of New Forest celebration
On February 26, 2017 Purchase of New Forest celebration was held in Dvur Kralove nad Labem. The celebration reminds 300 years since the purchase of a new forest by Count Spork. On 26 February 1717, the council of Dvur Kralove nad Labem sold New Forest to count Sporck. Later there where founded sculpture Braun's nativity scene. To commemorate this anniversary, we repeated the arrival of Count Frantisek Antonin Spork at City Hall in Dvur Kralove town after exactly 300 years, in February 26, 2017 after 13:00 on T.G. Masaryk Square and in Old City Hall. Prestige was add the presence of Mr. Stephan Sweerts-Sporck, a descendant of Count Spork, who accepted the role of his famous ancestor. There was also present purkmistr Jan Kucera and all 16 councilors and other authentic characters, all in baroque costumes.
Exhibition in New Haven
In the days 21.11.2015 - 31.1.2016 the exhibition Joy to the world: Nativity scenes in Central Europe took place in New Haven, USA. On this show was also exhibited a plaster cast model of Braun's nativity scene. Model and photos of this significant cultural landmark had a chance to see a total of 12,245 visitors.
Extension of educational trail Kuks - Betlém
At the beginning of 2016 was opened educationsl trail Kuks - Bethlehem. The trail leads on the former road to Nativity scene sculptures - Bethlehem and Calvary from 1731 through the sites of former chapels and hermitages.
Christmas exhibition of nativity scenes
In days 30.11.2015 – 6.12.2015 at Old Town Hall in Dvur Kralove nad Labem was held a Christmas exhibition of nativity scenes organized by the children and youth center Jednička.
Cleansing of Adoration of the Magi
The cleansing of the Adoration of the Magi section of Braun's Nativity scene happened during the days 23th to 25th of September by the Faculty of Restoration of the Unversity of Pardubice in Litomyšl. Now the last uncleansed section of Braun's Nativity scene is the Vision of saint Hubert. There's a significant difference between the cleansed and uncleansed sections of the whole work.
Braun's Nativity scene at the Engineering Fair
The company MCAE Kuřim created through scanned data of wood carvings of Braun's Nativity scene an exact copy wood carvings of the 3D sandprint of the same size as the wood carvings. The model is made of foundry sand of dark-grey colour. This technique might be helpful in the future for the form preservation of decaying historical monuments. Sand models were exposed on the Engineering Fair 2015 in Brno.
Christmas exhibition in Hostinne town.
On December 2, 2014 was the opening of the Christmas exhibition in the Franciscan monastery in Hostinne town. The replica of Braun's Bethlehem of Mr. Leos Pryšinger has been exposed there.
Cleaning of Nativity scene
Between 13th and 16th of October 2014 there was a cleaning of part of Braun's Nativity scene by Faculty of Restoration, University of Pardubice in Litomyšl. On photos you can see significant difference between adjusted and unadjusted parts.
Mr. Wayne Wetton, tourist even from New Zeland, visited Braun's Nativity scene in early September. He showed admiration for the cultural memory and regret over its current state.
The launch of a new website
On 5/1/2014 we have launched a new website fully dedicated to the Braun's Nativity Scene – a rock monument in Novy Les near Dvur Kralove nad Labem. The website is operated by citizens association "Braunuv Betlem" and contains information about the history of the monument and attempts to rescue it. There is also additional information about the monument's wooden replica created by wood carver Leos Prysinger. In the gallery, you will find historical and current photos of the actual nativity scene together with the photos of the model.
Visit of Johan Dendorfer
On June 9, 2013, president of the World Federation of Friends of Cribs UN-FOE-PRAE Johan Dendorfer visited Dvur Kralove nad Labem. We visited Kuks, Braun's Nativity Scene, Dvur Kralove nad Labem and High School of sculpture and Stonemasonry in Horice.
Visiting birthplace of M. B. Braun
The birthplace of M. B. Braun can be found in the town of Sautens in Ötztal Valley in Austria. During our trip to World Congress of World Congress of World Federation of Friends of Cribs UN-FOE-PRAE, we visited Sautens and we were received by it's Mayor. We visited museum in Oetz and birthplace of M. B. Braun. The current owner is running a distillery of the local spirit Mathias Braun. Currently, local chapel in Sautens, where the museum of M. B. Braun will be situated, is under reconstruction.
World Congress of UN-FOE-PRAE in Innsbruck
In November 14 – 18, 2014, a World Congress of World Federation of Friends of Cribs UN-FOE-PRAE was held in Innsbruck, Austria. We have introduced our plan to revitalize Braun's Nativity Scene in Kuks