Hadí Lázně in Teplice is no longer a cultural monument, decided Staněk

Teplice - Former Minister of Culture Antonín Staněk issued a decision before his departure from office, stating that the Hadí lázně in Teplice is no longer a cultural monument. He made this decision despite objections from heritage protectors and the appeal commission in an ongoing dispute and catered to the owner of the baths and Teplice developer Jaroslav Třešňák, the website Neovlivní.cz reported today. According to the website, Staněk made his decision on July 31 in the final hours before leaving his ministerial position. However, ministry spokesperson Martha Häckl told Czech Television that Staněk's decision was in accordance with the opinion of the appeal commission.

The dispute over the Teplice spa complex Hadí lázně has been ongoing for nearly ten years. Heritage protectors have so far refused to give consent to all of developer Jaroslav Třešňák's proposals for the reconstruction of the heritage-protected baths. According to the heritage protectors, their proposals included the demolition of a valuable building and new construction on its original site.

The National Heritage Institute does not agree with Staněk's conclusions. "Docent Staněk's decision contradicts the expert assessment of the decision of the Ministry of Culture itself from July 8, 2019 and is contrary to all positions provided by the relevant administrative authorities regarding the proposal to revoke the declaration," stated Petr Hrubý, the director of the Ústí National Heritage Institute.

According to him, Staněk's approach is entirely unacceptable. "Essentially, this is a decision facilitated by Docent Staněk's position, not the expert background that should play the most important role," he believes. He added that Staněk's decision could lead to a direct threat to the overall number of protected monuments in the Czech Republic, should the Ministry of Culture proceed similarly in comparable cases.

Staněk is currently on vacation and did not want to comment on his decision now. According to the ministry spokesperson, however, the revocation of the spa's heritage protection was in accordance with the opinion of the appeal commission. "The opinion of the appeal commission was advisory," she told Czech Television. According to her, the minister reacted to citizens' suggestions with his decision. "The monument is in the urban heritage zone, which continues to adequately protect its exterior values," she added.

The owner of the Hadí lázně in Teplice, the company JTH, wants to restore the building and establish a spa treatment facility for up to 200 children with movement disorders. JTH owner Jaroslav Třešňák, who was among the most generous sponsors of last year’s presidential campaign of Miloš Zeman, aims to invest up to 200 million crowns in the baths.

The neoclassical building, which has been a cultural monument since 1958, ceased to serve its original purpose after several modifications at the turn of the millennium. The company JTH purchased it in 2006.