In Luhačovice, the Water Treatment Institute and the Sun Baths reopened after restoration

Luhačovice - The company Lázně Luhačovice today proudly opened the reconstructed complex of the Hydrotherapy Institute and River and Sun Baths. The buildings were designed by Slovak architect Dušan Jurkovič and were created at the beginning of the last century. The Hydrotherapy Institute and Sun Baths are cultural monuments. The reconstruction started preparations in 2016, with work beginning in March 2021. The costs amounted to 155 million crowns, of which 71 million crowns were EU grants, the rest was provided by the spa. This was stated today by the director of the Sun Baths, Hana Felcmanová. The complex also offers a new museum exhibition.

The main part of the reconstruction was completed last year; the repair of the space of the former River and Sun Baths and the former swimming area was still in progress. "In the final phase, we were finishing the restoration of the fencing and the original wooden Jurkovič cabins," said Felcmanová. New coatings, roofing repairs, and changes to the roof covering of the cabins were also done. "We aimed to replace a minimum of structural wooden elements and preserve the maximum of the originals," stated Felcmanová.

The complex will be open to the public this weekend. Since March, the museum exhibitions in the former Hydrotherapy Institute have been accessible. One floor is dedicated to the history of the place and spa treatment, the second to Jurkovič, who significantly influenced the appearance of the spa, and another to the composer Leoš Janáček, who often visited the Moravian spa. So far, nearly 3,000 people have viewed the exhibitions.

The complex is freely accessible to the public. "Visitors can access the pool, park areas, and exhibitions. In the outdoor area, they can relax; there are benches, sun loungers, and umbrellas," said the director. The pool has not been used for bathing since 1995. "It has been turned into a relaxation biotope. If someone wants to dip their toes or walk knee-deep in the water, that is possible," said Felcmanová.

There is also a building for the former sulfur and peat baths in the complex. "It is a facility that we will use for various cultural events, exhibitions, and social gatherings. Visitors can also have a look inside," said the director.

According to the project author, architect Petr Všetečka, the complex falls into Jurkovič's peak period. However, the buildings had long been in disrepair, and it was necessary to find a use for them. "This meant returning to Jurkovič, cleaning up items that had accumulated here over more than a hundred years. These were often extensions related to the development of operations," said the architect to ČTK today. He particularly valued the resting room in the former Hydrotherapy Institute.

In the future, some of the buildings in the complex may be transformed into hotel services, and a wellness center is also expected to be added, said the chairman of the board of Lázně Luhačovice, Eduard Bláha. The reconstruction of the complex concluded the phase of restoring public spaces in the spa. "Ten years ago, we completed the restoration of the spa park, in 2019 we finished the renovation of the spa colonnade and the Vincentka hall. Now we are making this space available, thereby expanding and prolonging the spa area," said Jiří Dědek, the director of Lázně Luhačovice, to ČTK today. The company repaired children's treatment facilities in the winter, is building a parking house next to the Morava spa hotel, and is preparing to renovate this hotel.