After nearly a year, the Municipal Baths in Ústí n. L. will reopen after extensive renovations.

Ústí nad Labem – After less than a year, the Municipal Baths in Ústí nad Labem will reopen on Wednesday following extensive renovations of the pool. The reconstruction cost 5.7 million crowns excluding VAT, spokesperson for the baths Alena Sejková said today.

"The Municipal Baths were closed because extensive reconstruction of the pool slab was taking place, which was statically inappropriate. Additionally, this matter was connected with the reconstruction of the pool hall and the access corridor," Sejková stated. There were therefore two phases that were combined after the city's decision. The reconstruction started last November.

The pool in the Art Nouveau building of the baths has been open to the public since 1908. The hall still bears historical features, such as a high vaulted ceiling adorned with a rosette and arcades. On weekday mornings, it is mainly used by kindergartens and elementary schools, while in the afternoons, private entities use it based on contractual agreements to hold swimming courses for children, seniors, and pregnant women. Thus, it is available to the public for a limited time, so it is better to go swimming on weekends. A sauna is also available in the building of the Municipal Baths.

Before the construction work began, it was necessary to address significant damage to the load-bearing reinforced concrete structure of the pool basin, which required the rehabilitation of the ceiling slabs and columns. After ensuring the statics of the load-bearing elements of the pool, construction workers began repairing the pool hall, changing rooms, showers, toilets, and the access corridor. New plaster can be found everywhere. The ceramic tiles in all walking areas are new except for the entrance corridor, where the historical flooring was retained. The walls of the hall, toilets, and the newly built showers are lined with ceramic tiles.

The owner of the company responsible for the design work, Martin Gazda, stated today that the corridor in front of the pool was lined with hardboard. "It looked horrible for the current times. We resolved it so that we could achieve the appearance that the building has now. At least the original flooring was preserved," added Gazda.

Next to the baths, there is a well with hot water. According to the city mayor Petr Nedvědický (ANO), the baths could eventually disconnect from the central heat supply and start using the well.

After the renovation, the entrance fees for organizations will slightly increase, while prices for the public remain the same. An hour in the pool will cost an adult 70 crowns, and two hours will cost 90 crowns.

Typically, dozens of people visit the baths daily. "We will see how it will be currently, as the restrictive measures complicate things for us a bit and do not yet allow courses, with the exception only for schools. We are still negotiating," Sejková added.