Hradec Králové Region will seek opportunities for financial co-participation in the rescue of Josefov

Hradec Králové - The Královéhradecký region will look for ways to ensure possible financial co-participation in the rescue of the most dilapidated buildings in Josefov in the Náchod region, which fall under the state recovery and development plan for fortress towns. The region and the town of Jaroměř, under which the fortress of Josefov falls, welcome the government's effort to contribute to the restoration. This emerged from today's statement by officials from the region and Jaroměř. On Wednesday, the government approved the recovery and development plan for the fortress towns of Terezín in the Litoměřice region and Josefov in the Náchod region.

"I want to thank the involved ministries and commend them for coming up with the first activity related to addressing the emergency state of two buildings in Josefov. We want to utilize the financial resources offered from the Ministry of Culture's program for the repairs of the emergency state. We will still negotiate with the Ministry of Regional Development about another program that could be used for partial reconstructions,” said Martin Červíček (ODS) to ČTK.

The applicant for the funds will be the City of Jaroměř. "The region will seek ways to ensure possible financial co-participation in individual construction projects,” added the governor.

Up to 1.73 billion crowns from the emergency fund of the Ministry of Culture and budgets of regions and municipalities will be allocated for the rescue of six buildings in both fortress towns over the next five years, with an additional up to 1.2 billion crowns directed over ten years towards the development of these buildings from a new program prepared by the Ministry of Regional Development (MMR) in cooperation with the regions. This was stated by the Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš (Pirates) and Minister of Culture Martin Baxa (ODS) after the government meeting. Four buildings are in Terezín and two in Josefov. Funds from the existing emergency program for the repair of monuments from the Ministry of Culture as well as from the new program from the Ministry of Regional Development should be available next year when remediation work should begin.

The estimated costs for the reconstruction of both buildings in Josefov, the Square Barracks and the Military Hospital, are between 2.5 and three billion crowns according to the mayor of Jaroměř, Jan Borůvka (ANO). For the rescue of the barracks, it is estimated that 350 million crowns from the emergency fund will be allocated over five years and 300 million crowns for the hospital, totaling 650 million crowns. Additional funds from the state are expected from the upcoming MMR program.

"I am not sure if this amount includes our co-participation or not. At the last meeting at the ministry, we were told that a total of 650 million crowns would go to Josefov from the emergency program. The funds from the emergency program are intended to secure the buildings. We will start on both buildings with the roof, trusses, and cladding,” said Jan Borůvka to ČTK.

According to the city, deposits for all contributory organizations of the region could be established in the barracks area. The city is negotiating with a private investor regarding the use of the hospital, the mayor told ČTK today without further details.

The twelve-thousand-strong Jaroměř, with a budget of around 450 million crowns, owns most of the buildings in the fortress town but does not have the funds for reconstruction. The Baroque fortress of Josefov is among the peak works of European fortress architecture.