Preparation of the Ještěd inscription on the UNESCO list may take the Liberec Region ten years

Liberec – According to Deputy Governor Květ Vinklátová (Mayors for the Liberec Region), the process for the Liberec Region to have the mountain hotel and transmitter Ještěd inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List may take up to ten years. It will not be easy and it will cost something; whether the region actually decides to pursue this will have to be determined by the regional councilors and the assembly, Vinklátová told ČTK today. She informed the councilors about a meeting with representatives from the National Heritage Institute and the Ministry of Culture.

"There is no other monument of this type and with this history, this story in the world. I believe that Ještěd belongs on that list," stated Vinklátová.

The mountain hotel and transmitter Ještěd is a Czech structure of the century. The 94-meter high hyperboloid uniquely combines the functions of a transmitter, hotel, and restaurant. The cornerstone of the building was ceremonially laid 60 years ago – in July 1966, and it has been in operation since 1973. Its author, Karel Hubáček, received the Perret Prize awarded by the International Union of Architects for the project in 1969. Experts and laypeople are still captivated by the way the building complements the silhouette of the 1012-meter-high mountain. The construction is a symbol of Liberec and the entire region.

As recently as the beginning of this year, Ještěd and the surrounding land belonged to Czech Radiocommunications (ČRa). In early June, the Liberec Region became the owner, paying approximately 185 million crowns for the building, land, and equipment. ČRa will continue to use about 30 percent of the building, paying around 3.5 million crowns annually for it. However, the unique structure needs a major renovation after years of operation; an assessment from 2019 estimated the costs at 400 million crowns. The actual cost will only be revealed by the project and public tender.

"We need to work with heritage conservationists on how the restoration will take place, whether we will adhere strictly to the memorial aspect or allow for some modernization that is appropriate for the 21st century if we want to have a hotel of a certain standard there. There are so many aspects to consider. We will also work very closely on how tourism will take place at Ještěd so that the environment is not damaged," added Vinklátová.

Besides Ještěd, the Czech list of candidates for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List also includes, for example, Karlštejn Castle, industrial complexes in Ostrava, the spa in Luhačovice, and the Terezín fortress.