Reanimation of abandoned places: three case studies from Czechia

Abstract

This study examines various approaches to the renewal, revitalisation, and reuse of selected sites in border regions and inland enclaves within Czechia that were predominantly inhabited by the German population before WWII. Following the war, these areas underwent profound socio-cultural transformations due to the forced displacement of the local population, leaving many of them largely abandoned. Official restoration efforts have been relatively scarce, with local heritage renewal–driven by grassroots initiatives–being more common. Through three case studies, the research highlights distinct approaches to the reanimation of these abandoned cultural spaces, initiated from below by local actors, and explores the motivations and reanimation strategies of the various stakeholders involved. The primary research method consisted of interviews with individuals directly engaged in the reanimation efforts, those impacted by the loss of the original structures (where possible), and local authorities. Each of the strategies presented demonstrates a positive effect on the sites in terms of heritage renewal or new cultural creation, offering models that could be replicated elsewhere. The absence of original structures does not necessarily impede reanimation efforts, nor does it matter whether those involved in the reanimation have ancestral ties to the location.