The wooden buildings in Pardubice are not the former field hospital

Pardubice – The wooden buildings on the edge of the Pardubice athletics stadium at Dukla are not remnants of a large field hospital from the First World War. This was determined by the National Heritage Institute, which was dealing with a proposal for the listing of the site as a cultural monument. Applicant Dominik Barták from Pardubice has therefore withdrawn the proposal for heritage protection. Barták told ČTK.

He submitted the proposal because the city wanted to demolish the wooden structures in order to modernize the athletics complex in the future. "The building was considered by many to be the last remnant of the former military hospital; it was the largest of its kind in Europe. It turned out that the building was constructed at this location later," Barták said. He withdrew the proposal so as not to block the investment preparations.

"I see this as an opening of the discussion, the beginning of the search for a path to a dignified and lasting reminder of this area, where the daughter of the later Czechoslovak president Masaryk, Alice, worked as a nurse for several months, and through which hundreds of thousands of soldiers passed," Barták said.

"We will probably establish a project team. We want a dignified reminder," said Deputy Mayor Jakub Rychtecký.

The lazaret, also known as quarantine, began construction in November 1914, and by spring, 365 mostly wooden barracks surrounded by a fence had sprung up. Thus, a military war hospital for 10,000 wounded from all fronts of the First World War was created in the city. The complex covered 80 hectares, and the hospital operated until 1924.

According to aerial photographs and cadastral maps, the wooden buildings were built only in the 1950s. They are not found in older sources. Moreover, there is now a railway siding at the site where the quarantine was, said Karel Falhaur from the heritage department of the municipality.

The lazaret from Dukla has not completely disappeared; while the wooden buildings no longer exist, the last brick structure on Gorkého Street remains, has been renovated, and today houses the KSČM.

The athletics complex dates back to 1959 and hosts 50 major events annually, with around 30,000 athletes participating. However, they are currently only using one-third of the entire stadium area. Its modernization will cost approximately one billion. The city plans to carry it out in phases.