Trutnov has received a former prison from the state, looking for a use for it

Trutnov – The city of Trutnov acquired a historic building of a former prison last year from the state, located near the central Krakonoš Square. The town hall has now begun to seek potential uses for the building, and the public can also get involved. The town hall believes that the former prison could serve purposes such as culture, museums, education, or community activities. This was stated today by the town hall's spokesperson Michaela Dědková.

The building was constructed as a municipal prison in the early 19th century. In its busiest years, over 1,000 prisoners cycled through it each year. During World War II, it served as a Gestapo prison and in the early 1950s as a state prison. After the prison was closed, it housed an archive and was last used as a civil protection storage facility. Since the beginning of the current century, the building has been empty and unused.

The Office for Representation of the State in Property Affairs considered offering the prison for sale at auction three years ago. However, the Trutnov town hall intervened, expressing interest in the building. "We successfully completed the annual process of transferring the property to the city. We managed to do this on the condition that we would use it for public interest, not for regular commercial activities," said Deputy Mayor Tomáš Eichler (Pirates).

The prison has two floors and an attic, and its construction and interior layout still correspond to the original purpose of the building. "The cells are preserved, and the building has massive walls and vaulted ceilings," Eichler noted.

The town hall is now looking for partners who would be interested in participating in the renovation and operation of the building. "The city is willing to contribute to the financing of the repairs, ideally through grants, but the operation should no longer be entirely dependent on funding from the city," the town hall spokesperson stated.

Proposals for the use of the prison can be submitted to the town hall until March 31. They should include a project description, detailing what could be created in the building, an estimate of construction costs, subsequent operational costs, and a financing proposal. "I would like to see the prison come back to life after so many years and serve new, more benevolent purposes than those for which it was originally established," stated Mayor Ivan Adamec (ODS).