The state will spend about 3 billion on repairs in Terezín and Josefov over the next ten years.

Prague - The state will invest approximately three billion crowns over the next ten years into the repairs of the most threatened buildings in the fortress towns of Terezín in Litoměřice and Josefov, which is part of Jaroměř in Náchod. This was announced by the Ministry of Regional Development (MMR) in a press release. According to previous information, a total of about 16.5 billion crowns would be needed for the repairs of the dilapidated structures in Terezín and Josefov.

A government commission consisting of three ministries - Regional Development, Finance, and Culture - already agreed in the spring of this year on the rescue of the most endangered buildings. At that time, they estimated the costs based on materials provided by the cities at up to 1.16 billion for Terezín and up to 650 million for Josefov. Today, MMR announced that in the next five years, the Ministry of Finance will allocate up to 1.73 billion crowns from the Emergency Fund of the Ministry of Culture for the preservation of the buildings. An additional 1.2 billion could then be provided over ten years by a program for the systematic restoration of both sites, which is yet to be established.

According to MMR, the restoration work should stop the further deterioration of six cultural monuments that are in emergency condition over the next five years. In Terezín, these are the Žižka Barracks, Armory, Proviant Store, and Military Hospital, and in Josefov, the Square Barracks and the local Military Hospital. "It's not just about the history of Terezín related to the Holocaust. In both cases, these are unique historical monuments," said Minister of Regional Development Ivan Bartoš (Pirates).

"Just preventing the worst and stopping the decline is not enough. We want to give Terezín and Josefov a new purpose," the minister added. Therefore, he stated that MMR will create the mentioned restoration program. "From the state budget, we can get up to another 1.2 billion crowns over the next ten years, but the condition is that additional funds will be contributed by the Ústí and Hradec Králové regions,” Bartoš explained. According to him, permanent groups of experts should be established in Terezín and Josefov, which will collaborate with the regions and ministries to find future uses for the fortress towns.