The legionnaires will receive money from the city for the restoration of Larisch's villa

Pardubice - Pardubice will allocate half a million crowns for the repair of the dilapidated Larisch Villa. The Czechoslovak Legionnaires' Association, which owns it, will use the funds for the reconstruction of the roof and ceilings of the tower. Mayor Martin Charvát (ANO) told ČTK this today.

"Larisch Villa is a symbol of Czechoslovak resistance and a reminder of the suffering of Czech patriots. In its cellars during the heyday of the heydrichiad in 1942, the Germans interrogated the collaborators of the paratroopers from the SILVER A group and residents of Ležák, who were subsequently shot at a nearby shooting range," said the mayor.

The neo-Renaissance villa was built in 1855 on the outskirts of Pardubice as a representative residence for Baron Jiří Larisch-Mönich. During the German occupation, it was owned by a police regiment from Kolín, and after the war, the villa housed a school for officer cadets. From 1956, it served as offices and warehouses for Pardubice Tesla. In 2000, the entire industrial complex, along with the villa, was purchased by Foxconn, which in 2015 transferred the long-unused villa free of charge to the Czechoslovak Legionnaires' Association. They began the gradual rescue of the decaying building.

"The villa is only a municipal, not a national cultural monument. Unfortunately, the Legionnaires do not have the opportunity to access European subsidies. Repairs are very expensive. The restoration of the monument has also been financially supported by the Pardubice Region and the Ministry of Culture," said Deputy Mayor Jakub Rychtecký (ČSSD).

After taking over Larisch Villa, the Legionnaires began working on repairing the tower roof, which was in a state of disrepair, and its ceiling. The roofing of the tower, which was most damaged, has already been removed by experts. It is necessary to complete moisture remediation against woodworm, reinforce the affected and damaged ceilings and supporting structures of the tower roof, and create a decorative replica for its top.