České Budějovice are renovating the protected Kenda villa, the reconstruction will last for two years

Ceske Budejovice have begun the reconstruction of the protected Kende Villa, which is the most significant Jewish monument in the city. The work on the restoration of the house near the center will last until 2028. The first phase will cost eight million crowns. City officials informed journalists about this today.

The building belongs to the city, but it has been operated for two years by the South Bohemian branch of the Memory of the Nation. "For us, Kende Villa is a place where we can, in collaboration with the Memory of the Nation, offer various programs for history enthusiasts, as well as for students who come here with their history teachers. And in 2028, we want to bring to our citizens and visitors to the city those fateful eights in the history of the nation," said the mayor of Ceske Budejovice, Dagmar Skodova Parmova (Our Czechia).

The first phase of the reconstruction concerns the outdoor spaces. The city will repair the facade and the roof. The work will then move to the interior. "But even after the reconstruction, the interior will remain in the same form, and we will preserve the spirit of the villa," the mayor stated.

The building is 103 years old; it was commissioned by the Jewish Kohn family, who later changed their surname to Kende. However, its members ended up in concentration camps during the war. According to conservationists, the villa combines residential and representative functions. The city purchased the building three years ago from a private owner for 20 million crowns. "The villa is an important part of the history of the city. We want to present the intertwining of the Czech-German-Jewish elements in Ceske Budejovice," stated deputy mayor of Ceske Budejovice Tomáš Bouzek.