Author: Tomáš Jirouch

The fortified cities of Terezín and Josefov, with their rich historical and architectural heritage, are among the most significant cultural landmarks in the Czech Republic. Over the years, efforts to preserve and revitalize these cities have fluctuated, often hindered by financial, political, and logistical challenges. However, recent government initiatives indicate a renewed commitment to preserving these unique sites, particularly through substantial funding and strategic planning.

This article provides an in-depth look at the ongoing efforts to restore Terezín and Josefov, focusing on both the historical context of past initiatives and the current strategies aimed at safeguarding these cities for future generations.

Terezín in the Early 2000s

In the early 2000s, the Czech government launched a major initiative to restore Terezín following the devastating floods of 2002. The catastrophic floods, which affected much of central Europe, caused severe damage to the town’s infrastructure, including its unique fortifications. Terezín, located in the low-lying floodplain of the Ohře River, was particularly vulnerable to the rising waters, which overwhelmed its centuries-old defensive structures. The city, which had already faced decades of neglect after its historical role, suffered extensive damage. As a result, the Europrojekt Terezín was prepared involving all the stakeholders to revive the city’s historical significance by restoring its fortifications, rebuilding damaged infrastructure, and repurposing its buildings for cultural and educational use.

However, the scope of the project quickly ran into significant challenges. One of the main factors was poor coordination among stakeholders, excessive ambitions, enormous budgetary demands, bureaucratic and political inefficiencies, which led to a failure to secure and utilize funding effectively. These difficulties were compounded by the fact that Terezín’s situation was more dire than many other heritage sites at the time. Situated on higher ground and further from the floodplains, Josefov’s fortifications were unaffected by the 2002 floods and so did not receive similar attention or funding for revitalization.

Despite the Czech government’s efforts and a series of initiatives, the Europrojekt Terezín ultimately failed to achieve its objectives, and the economic and social revival of the town as a new ‘university town’ was largely unrealized.

Supportive Actions in the 2010s

In Terezín, two EU-funded projects contributed to the revitalization of its historical sites in 2010s. The first, Terezín – projekt oživení historických památek, was financed under the Integrated Operational Programme (IOP) 2007–2013. This initiative focused on the reconstruction of Cavalier 2, Retranchement 5, the Artillery Barracks, and the Riding Hall. The project not only restored these sites but also revitalized them for modern use. The total budget for this endeavor was €19.2 million (468.5 million CZK), with work carried out between 2009 and 2015.

The second project, Revitalizace objektu Wieserova domu v Terezíně, funded under the Integrated Regional Operational Programme (IROP) 2014–2020, extended these efforts. This project focused on restoring the Wieser House, which later hosted the Forte Cultura conference in 2022. The total cost of this project was €5 million (122.7 million CZK), and it ran from 2016 to 2022.

Similarly, in Josefov, the project Oživení pevnosti Josefov, funded under the IROP programme (using the ITI tool), focused on revitalizing selected parts of the fortress from 2019 to 2022. The initiative included the restoration of Bastion IV, the Powder House within Bastion IV, the curtain wall between Bastions III and IV, and Ravelin XIII which supported the development of the Artistic Colony housed in Bastion IV. The total budget for this project was €4.3 million (105 million CZK).

Despite investments made through cohesion policy funds, many buildings in Terezín continued to deteriorate over the following years, with some eventually collapsing. The lack of sustained investment meant that the fortifications and structures, once symbols of Czech heritage, were left to decay. In addition, Terezín was hit by floods again in 2013. Although tens of millions of euros were allocated for flood damage repairs, the funds provided only limited assistance.

Compared to Terezín, Josefov received much less support at the national level but also avoided the devastating floods of 2002 and 2013. It also benefited from being part of Jaroměř, which has a larger local budget compared to the smaller budget of Terezín, allowing for more resources to be allocated toward reconstruction. As a result, Terezín is more damaged than Josefov.

A Revival of Interest in the 2020s

Following the unsuccessful efforts to rescue Terezín in the 2000s, the issue of the fortified city disappeared entirely from the Czech government’s agenda, partly due to the global financial crisis of 2008. However, the topic regained national attention in the late 2010s and 2020s thanks to lobbying activities of the local politicians. In 2021, then-Minister for Regional Development Klára Dostálová (ANO party) announced a €25 million (CZK 600 million) funding initiative for Josefov as well as for Terezín, sourced from the National Recovery Fund (prepared as reaction on Covid-19). Discussions emerged about negotiating exemptions for fortified cities from the EU’s strict environmental limits under the Green Deal. However, official records later revealed that no such exemption request had been made to the European Commission.

Despite renewed interest to use the EU funds, the incoming Minister Ivan Bartoš (Pirate party) canceled the plan after the October 2021 parliamentary elections. Access to EU funds was hindered by the “Do No Significant Harm” (DNSH) principle under the Green Deal, which aims to align all funded projects with EU climate goals.

Subsequently, a proposed €193 million (CZK 4.7 billion) reconstruction budget for Terezín and Josefov gained media attention but was quickly dismissed as financially unfeasible by the Ministry for Regional Development (MoRD). By late 2022, the Czech government established a new Commission for fortified cities to address the critical situation, focusing on leveraging both national and EU funding.

The 2023 Revitalization Strategy and Financial Challenges

In 2023, the revitalization and development strategy for fortified cities was outlined in the report Revitalization and Development of Fortified Cities. It acknowledged (again) that the scale of the problem exceeded the financial capacities of local governments and even the state. A phased plan emerged, preparing national finances for both of the cities in total: €57 million (CZK 1.384 billion) for emergency repairs from 2024 to 2028 and an additional €50 million (CZK 1.2 billion) for broader revitalization projects running from 2024 to 2033.

The government proposed to cover 70% of project costs from the national budget, leaving 30% to local authorities, which, when VAT was considered, led to an even higher burden on regional a local budgets. The fortified city of Josefov, represented by the town of Jaroměř and the Hradec Králové Region, demanded a higher state contribution—up to 90%—arguing that local resources were insufficient. The Ministry for Regional Development resisted these demands due to concerns about budget discipline. While the state eventually agreed to cover VAT on subsidized expenses, demands for higher co-financing were not met. This situation underscores the complexities of balancing heritage preservation with the fiscal constraints of public budgets. For international experts, the Czech experience offers valuable insights into the challenges of multi-stakeholder cooperation, particularly when navigating the intersection of historic preservation and modern environmental policies.

In 2023, the Czech government approved the Emergency Program by the Ministry of Culture aimed at restoring six historic buildings in the fortified cities of Terezín and Josefov. The Emergency Program for 2024–2028 allocates up to €57 million (CZK 1.384 billion) for the cities from the national budget (covers up to 80 %, 20 % comes from the regional and local sources). The implementation of the fund has already begun.

Systematic Program for Fortified City Renewal and Development

On May 29, 2024, the Czech government approved the Systematic Program for Fortified Cities through resolution no. 347. Officially announced by Minister Ivan Bartoš in Terezín, this program marks a shift from emergency measures to a comprehensive strategy for the restoration and maintenance of fortified cities. It applies to repairs and upkeep in both Terezín and Josefov, restricted to eligible recipients—these cities and their organizations.

The program is divided into two subprograms, one for each city, with a total allocation of €35.4 million (CZK 858 million) per subprogram, running from 2024 to 2033. Each city has €3.54 million (CZK 85.8 million) annually, with 70% of the funding (€2.48 million/CZK 60 million annually = €50 million/CZK 1.2 billion in total for both of the cities) coming from national budget and the remaining 30% from municipal and regional budgets. This ensures that €70.8 million (CZK 1.716 billion) in total will be available for a decade-long restoration of the cities from thanks to the Systematic program.

In total, combining the Emergency Fund and the Systematic Program, across both cities (Terezín and Josefov), during the respective periods (next 10 years), and from all funding sources (local, regional, and national), the total available funding amounts up to €143.58 million (CZK 3.446 billion).

First Call for Proposals – Systematic Program

The program’s first calls for proposals, launched on June 28, 2024, allocated €10 million (CZK 240 million) in total for both cities with applications open until the end of the year. Supported activities include:

• Drafting a General Plan for Fortifications and Public Spaces: An essential step for ensuring a long-term strategy for the preservation and integration of fortifications with surrounding areas.
• Project Documentation for Structures Supported by the Emergency Fund: The preparation of detailed documentation for buildings eligible for emergency repairs to ensure that they meet the required technical and legal standards.
• Project Documentation for Repairs and Maintenance: Including preparation for building permits, public tenders, and other necessary legal steps to ensure that fortifications and associated public spaces can be properly repaired and maintained.
• Development of a Strategic Master Plan for the City: A comprehensive plan to guide the city’s growth while integrating its historical fortifications and preserving its cultural heritage.
• Repairs and Maintenance of Buildings and Fortifications: Focused on the restoration of walls, facades, stairs, ceilings, and other elements related to the fortifications. This includes routine tasks like grass cutting, removal of overgrowth, and other maintenance work. Priority is given to the most damaged sections, with a list of these areas to be provided in the previously mentioned master plan.
• Creation of a Special Task Force: Technical assistance (a dedicated team to handle complex restoration and preservation tasks in the fortifications and search for new fund possibilities)
• 10% Allocation for Indirect Costs: This includes expenditures for professional consultancy services, such as those from historians, architects, or other experts needed to guide the restoration and development efforts.

What is next?

The implementation of both the programs has already begun. However, compared to Terezín, Jaroměř has taken a somewhat different approach in the case of Josefov. The aim of the Systematic Program is systematic maintenance and conservation of a larger number of fortification structures, so that the master plans (financed also from the Systematic Program) can be developed in the meantime to thoroughly prepare for the future use of individual objects.

Subsequently, it might be possible to apply from the cohesion funds in the next programming period. However, funding for the Czech Republic is set to decrease significantly in the next period. Ideally, reconstructed objects should be immediately put to use where suitable purposes have already been proposed. Another issue is ownership – both cities own the vast majority of the fortification objects, and it is hard to imagine that they will be able to manage all of them in the future.

The city of Jaroměř has decided to allocate the majority of funding from the Systematic Program to the renovation of two buildings in Josefov, and primarily to the military hospital, which is expected to create up to 350 jobs in healthcare. The revitalization of the hospital has the potential to act as a catalyst for broader economic development. However, the focus on two major buildings—both of which are undergoing renovation through the Emergency Fund—has meant that other parts of the fortifications, as well as initiatives rooted in community-driven activities and bottom-up approaches, remain underutilized. Compared to Terezín, where resources are to be dispersed across various projects, Josefov’s top-down approach is more centralized and concentrated.

Time will tell us which (or if both) of the strategies will be successful. Regardless, it is clear that neither Josefov nor Terezín will be fully revitalized through these funds. Significant additional efforts, alongside innovative solutions, will be necessary to address the restoration and sustainable use of other structures in both cities.