Jemnický Castle should serve war veterans

Jemnice (Třebíčsko) - The European Military Rehabilitation Center of Army General Karel Janoušek is expected to be established within the next ten years in the castle in Jemnice in the Třebíč region. It has been abandoned since the early 90s when the army handed it over to the city. The city leadership has so far unsuccessfully sought to utilize it and even wanted to sell it. Now it has leased it for a symbolic rent for 50 years to the Order of the Knights of the Red Heart - the Cyriacs, Mayor Miloslav Nevěčný told ČTK during today's ceremonial project launch.
      The three-story castle has dozens of rooms, and there are four additional buildings associated with it. In the first phase, according to Prior Jiří Stanislav, a military museum focusing on both world wars is to be established in the former castle brewery for approximately 20 million CZK. If funding is secured, construction work could begin next year. In subsequent phases, a rehabilitation and accommodation center will be built to serve both Czech and foreign military veterans.
      Within approximately ten years, the castle could be fully functional. The order plans to use European and so-called Norwegian funds and donations from sponsors to cover the anticipated costs of around 400 million CZK.
      The center will carry the name of Army General Karel Janoušek. Janoušek fought in World War I in the ranks of the Czechoslovak Legions in Russia and organized the formation of Czechoslovak RAF air units during World War II. After the war, he was persecuted.
      The project team that met today at the castle also considers additional activities related to the establishment of the center, which should revitalize the cultural and social life of the city and nearby region, while also contributing to an increase in tourist traffic. Among other things, there are considerations for an annual military pilgrimage or a military film festival.
      In the past, the city invested about 18 million CZK into the maintenance of the castle and the revitalization of its surroundings, along with grants. This year, it will contribute 600,000 CZK.