The heritage conservationists have not yet reached an agreement with the investor on the form of the Snake Baths

Teplice - The Snake Baths in Teplice could once again serve their purpose after years of neglect and devastation. The company JTH, owned by entrepreneur Jaroslav Třešňák, purchased the building and has prepared plans for its reconstruction. However, the heritage conservationists from the Teplice Municipal Office issued a disapproving statement regarding the last submitted proposal. The investor is now waiting for a response from the cultural heritage department of the regional office, to which he has appealed.

The Neoclassical building ceased to serve its original purpose at the turn of the millennium after several renovations. The company JTH acquired it in 2006. "Our project anticipates that the Snake Baths will provide outpatient treatment for children with some disabilities. We plan to use Chinese, Russian, and Czech treatment methods," Třešňák told reporters today.

There is a spring below the building that the baths could draw upon, and the building is also connected to the main distribution of spa springs. The company has prepared 200 million for the renovations. "The repair of the building will cost at most 50 to 70 million crowns, and the technology will cost an additional 130 million crowns," Třešňák estimated. Because there is no accommodation in the approximately 1200 square meter building, only outpatient treatments are planned.

"The treatment lasts about 45 minutes, so parents would come, drop off their child, and then they could enjoy a coffee on the restored colonnade," Třešňák described.

Since the building is located at the lowest point in Teplice and is practically all on water, the company would like to dismantle and raise the building by one and a half meters so that the structure is not below the level of the adjacent road. "I estimate about a year for the building permit and the actual work would take about a year to a year and a half," Třešňák mentioned.

Architect Petr Sedláček has been working on the renovation designs for seven years. The last one retains the Neoclassical appearance of the building from 1839. "Our proposals were deemed (by the heritage conservationists) unacceptable, as they would negatively impact the architectural and urban values of the building. However, in my opinion, the heritage conservationists overlook the fundamental functional need of the building," Sedláček said today, noting that even the most conservative proposal was rejected.

No local heritage conservationists attended today's meeting at the baths and they refuse to comment until the regional office makes a decision. "The decision will be made in January," said Lucie Dosedělová, spokesperson for the Ústí Region, to ČTK.

The city of Teplice is concerned that due to disputes, the Snake Baths will end up like the city baths, which became a dumping ground and a haven for drug addicts and were ultimately demolished. Therefore, the investor has the support of the city. "It is a great thing to return the Snake Baths to their original purpose," said Mayor Jaroslav Kubera (ODS).

"The state administration in delegated authority must be independent. It is in the interest of cultural heritage that every monument is secured. If its use can be original, as in this case, it is ideal. If no agreement has yet been reached, I am convinced that it must be achieved," said Vlastislav Ouroda, Deputy Minister for Managing the Cultural Heritage section of the Ministry of Culture, to reporters in Teplice. If the regional office confirms the negative stance of the Teplice Municipal Office, the investor may request a review from the Ministry of Culture.