The modernization of the Memorial Zámeček in Pardubice is halfway through

Pardubice - Work on the modernization and reconstruction of the Zámeček Memorial in Pardubice, which began in April this year, is now past the halfway mark. The builders have completed the rough construction of the monolithic structures of the future exhibition building. They still need to finish the entrance ramp and will be working on the interior during the winter. The outdoor parts of the memorial will be completed in the spring, which also includes newly designed landscaping, said Iveta Koubková from the mayor's office in a press release.

The restoration of the site where the Nazis murdered nearly 200 Czech patriots during World War II is expected to be completed by mid-next year. The town hall will spend around 40 million crowns on the modernization, with over 21 million crowns being obtained from European grants.

The underground space, which is being created according to the design of architects Jan Žalský and Vít Podráský in collaboration with historian Vojtěch Kyncl, will bring a completely new form to the memorial. Preparations for the actual interactive exhibition are also being finalized. "The spoken part, such as films, will be provided, in cooperation with historian Kyncl, by actors from our East Bohemian Theater, as we wanted to emphasize the regional aspect," said Deputy Mayor Jakub Rychtecký (ČSSD).

A part of the greenery, primarily the bushes behind the current memorial, will be removed. This will uncover the original embankment, in front of which executions were carried out in 1942 and which, after remodeling, will become part of the memorial. Unlike the current situation, it will be accessible year-round. The entrance will be from Průmyslová Street, where a parking lot will be created. The current memorial will remain the dominant feature of this national cultural monument.

The memorial stands on the site of the former training shooting range of the reserve police regiment Böhmen, which the Nazis transformed into a Gestapo execution site in the summer of 1942. From June 3 to July 9, 1942, 194 Czech patriots were executed here, their bodies cremated and ashes scattered in the Elbe River. A memorial was established on the execution site in 1949.