In the Teplice Rocks, the construction of a visitor center has begun, resolved by a referendum

Teplice nad Metují – At the entrance to the Teplice Rocks in Náchod, the city of Teplice nad Metují began constructing a visitor center today. The construction, costing 32 million crowns, which has been accompanied by disputes and was addressed by a local referendum, is expected to be completed by the end of 2027. The Teplice Rocks, along with the neighboring Adršpach Rocks, are among the most visited tourist destinations in the Hradec Králové Region, attracting about 160,000 visitors according to data from CzechTourism two years ago.

Currently, there is a ticket office in a wooden house at the entrance to the Teplice Rocks, and toilets are located in a nearby container. "Modern facilities for visitors to the rocks are a necessity, as daily evidenced by the number of people who come," said Teplice mayor Věra Prokopová (Change for the City). The city has secured a European grant of 12 million crowns for the construction, while the rest will be covered by a bank loan. The municipality plans to repay the debt from the income generated from entrance fees to the rocks.

Access to the Teplice Rocks will remain open during the construction. "The rocks will operate normally during the works, only parking will be elsewhere," the mayor said.

The partially sunken new building will rise in place of the current toilets between Hotel Orlík and the secondary school building. "The project includes the construction of a glass oval-shaped structure, which will feature ticket sales, souvenirs, as well as toilets, and upstairs a smaller hall for lectures or educational programs," Prokopová stated.

The ground floor will have a covered outdoor area with informational panels. The facility will include a room with lockers for luggage, staff facilities, technical rooms, and a terrace on the green roof. The internal furnishing is expected to cost around 1.5 million crowns. According to architect Karel Mrázek, the building made of sandstone, specially corroded steel, and concrete is not meant to compete with the surrounding nature.

The city has been preparing the visitor center at the rocks for over ten years. The proposal for the current version of the center was approved by the municipal council on January 22 last year. The preparation of the project has been accompanied by disputes. Some residents oppose the construction of the visitor center, fearing that it will place too much financial burden on the city. There was a referendum on the project in March. Although voters rejected the construction, the result of the referendum was not binding for the municipality and the city proceeded with the project.

To be valid, the referendum needed 35 percent of eligible voters to participate, which was achieved with nearly 43 percent attending. There are 1303 eligible voters in Teplice nad Metují out of 1600 residents. In the matter of the center, 292 people opposed the construction, representing 22.41 percent of the total number of eligible voters, with the minimum number of votes required for binding validity being 326. The construction was supported by 254 people.