Ржетизкарна – Дом цепей, Former prison changing room in Jachymov, Czech Republic.
The Ržetizkarná building is a former changing room for prisoners in Jáchymov with concrete walls and metal grids lining its interior. It connects to the uranium mines through a wire-fenced tunnel system that allowed workers to move between the facility and their work sites.
The building was established in 1949 as a changing room for political prisoners working in uranium mines until 1961. This period represents a dark chapter in post-war history when thousands of detainees were forced to extract uranium for the state.
The changing room stands as a reminder of forced labor during the communist era, where imprisoned workers extracted uranium from the earth. Visitors can see the physical traces of this difficult period and understand how detainees changed clothes here before descending into the mines each day.
The site currently requires significant restoration work and is not fully open to the public. Visitors should check accessibility before planning a visit and wear sturdy footwear, as the grounds around the building can be uneven and rough.
Prisoners gave the wire-fenced tunnel connecting to the mines the name "Alley of Lost Hopes," a phrase that captured their despair about the daily journey. This evocative name reveals how detainees perceived and coped with their circumstances.
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