The government approved a plan for the restoration of monuments in Terezín and Josefov for 3 billion CZK

Prague – The government has today approved a plan for the restoration and development of the fortified towns Terezín in the Litoměřice region and Josefov in the Náchod region. Up to 1.73 billion crowns from the Ministry of Culture's emergency fund and the budgets of regions and towns will go towards saving the most dilapidated buildings over the next five years. An additional up to 1.2 billion will be directed towards further development of these structures from a new program that the Ministry for Regional Development is preparing with the regions from 2024 to 2033. This was stated by the Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš (Pirates) and Minister of Culture Martin Baxa (ODS) after the government meeting.

"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 for Regional Development, should be available as early as next year," said Bartoš. He added that, according to representatives of both towns, work on project documentation is already underway. Initial adjustments are planned for six selected buildings, four in Terezín and two in Josefov, where remediation work is expected to start around the middle of next year. Subsequently, according to Bartoš, it is important to find some future life for each building in the fortress.

From the Ministry of Culture's emergency program, 1.73 billion crowns should be allocated for repairs. Baxa stated that this consists of 1.4 billion crowns from state funds, with an additional 350 million crowns from regional and municipal sources. "And in the program that the Ministry for Regional Development will create, there is 1.2 billion crowns, for which some form of co-financing will also be considered, which we still need to set up. In the first program, the amount is already summed up; in the second there will be some share of co-financing," said Bartoš.

According to the Minister of Culture, resources from the emergency fund are intended to halt the destruction of six cultural monuments. In Terezín, these are the Žižka Barracks, Armory, Proviant Store, and Military Hospital; in Josefov, the Square Barracks and Military Hospital. "Things have gone too far. There is a risk of roofs and pieces of masonry collapsing, and underground corridors are collapsing," Bartoš said.

"Thanks to the cooperation of the state, regions, and towns, a proposal has emerged that finally brings a clear perspective for the future. From 2024 to 2028, we will finance the revitalization of unique historical objects in Terezín and Josefov through our emergency program for the rescue of cultural monuments. These are significant cultural monuments, additionally linked to dramatic events and the fates of many people, whom we must not forget. I am very glad that we can repay this debt of historical memory," said Baxa.

According to Bartoš, permanent groups of experts should be established in Terezín and Josefov that will cooperate with regions and ministries to seek future uses for the fortified towns. The problem has been long unresolved, and municipalities or towns that took over the buildings from the army never had the funds to maintain or even reconstruct them, he said today.

The fortified towns of Terezín and Josefov were constructed in the 18th century by Emperor Joseph II as a defense against invasions from Prussia. They consisted of complexes with extensive underground structures and a complex above-ground section that served to accommodate troops and conduct battles. At their time, they represented a top defensive system, but they were never tested in combat, as enemies avoided them. During World War II, Terezín became a symbol of persecution and genocide when German Nazis established a Gestapo prison and a Jewish ghetto there.