Pardubice and the Pardubice Region will contribute to the renovation of the Larisch Villa

Pardubice - Pardubice and the Pardubice Region will contribute to the repair of Larisch Villa. The regional authority has promised 15 million crowns. The city may also contribute the same amount, but the sum still needs to be approved by the councilors. Jakub Rychtecký (ČSSD), the mayor's deputy, told ČTK. The villa was the site of the heydrichiáda; in 1942, the Nazis interrogated collaborators of the paratroopers from the SILVER A group and residents of Ležáky in its basement. They subsequently shot them at a nearby shooting range.

"If we manage to sign the memorandum, we could present the proposal at the council meeting in September. I expect that we would split the amount over three years," said Rychtecký.

The region also declared the gradual release of 15 million crowns for repairs. The monument is so dilapidated that its reconstruction will cost 70 million crowns, with 40 million crowns expected to be contributed from the budget of the Ministry of Culture. The monument is owned by the Czechoslovak Legionary Community, which will prepare an exhibition inside from its own resources.

"Minister of Culture Staněk (ČSSD) will personally familiarize himself with the current state and development plans during his upcoming visit to our region at the end of September. We want to do everything together to ensure that this monument is not only preserved but restored to the condition it deserves," said Governor Martin Netolický (ČSSD).

The city is also preparing the restoration of the Zámeček Memorial, where there was a place of execution, located near the villa. It will be opened to the public in 2020. It is also negotiating with Foxconn about connecting both historical sites, which people currently must navigate around inconveniently. The land belongs to the Taiwanese company, which has manufacturing facilities there. According to Rychtecký, an agreement is taking shape.

"The common goal is to connect both areas, and I see a very positive shift in negotiations with Foxconn, which has begun to accept the possibility of making a path through its land between both sites, thus potentially creating a joint path commemorating the journey of the victims from Larisch Villa to the place of execution during the heydrichiáda," said Rychtecký.

The legionnaires acquired the villa from Foxconn in 2015. Gradually, with the help of subsidies from the region and the city, they are repairing it. They are primarily addressing emergency conditions, having for example repaired the massive tower of the building.