The Jizera Mountains Protected Landscape Area has reservations about the new design of the mountain lodge in Smědava

Bílý Potok - The construction of a new mountain lodge at Smědava in the Jizera Mountains is nearing completion, following the demolition of the previous building, which stirred significant emotions. The Agency for Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection (AOPK) of the Czech Republic has reservations about the new design of the lodge, as it does not comply with the originally approved documentation. The agency seeks correction. Tomáš Korytář, head of the Jizera Mountains Protected Landscape Area Administration at AOPK, told ČTK and Czech Television today that the biggest discrepancy lies in the execution of the northwestern side. The roof there is two-colored and the metal sheets extend down to the ground, covering part of the wooden wall of the lodge.

The owner of the mountain lodge is Jindřich Řehák. Today, he refused to comment on the lodge for ČTK and ČT. On the lodge's website, he states that it will be in operation from next Saturday, July 1st. The environmentalists' complaints do not prevent its opening. "Of course, this is an element that does not directly prevent the provisional use. That means, we have expressed our consent for the provisional use on the condition that by a certain deadline, the construction will be carried out in accordance with the approved documentation," said Korytář.

According to him, the deadline for correction is set for the end of this November. However, this does not mean that the additional modifications will actually take place, as the owner of the property has submitted a request for a change in the construction. Korytář did not want to predict the outcome. "Nevertheless, the Agency for Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection of the Czech Republic will advocate for what I have said. That means compliance with the originally approved documentation, so that the construction respects the architectural building rules that apply to this location," he added.

The Smědava mountain lodge (German: Wittighaus) is situated between the summit of Jizera and Plochý vrch along the Smědavská road. It is located near the Black Lakes and the bogs of the Jizera and is among the starting points for the Jizera Mountains. The first Smědava lodge was built at this site as early as 1841, and the road to it was constructed half a century later. The original lodge burned down in 1932, and the second stood here from 1935 until its demolition at the end of 2021. The current one was built on the foundation of the previous one, but the difference between them is clear at first glance. "The old one had its story. It was here for many years, it had its charm. Maybe a person will change that in their head and will like the new one as well. That will be seen when they go inside," said one of the tourists today to ČTK and ČT, Magda Střílková from Lipník nad Bečvou.