Zaorálek has definitively confirmed the heritage protection of the Snake Baths

Prague - Culture Minister Lubomír Zaorálek (ČSSD) has definitively confirmed the heritage protection of the Teplice Snake Baths. He has once again changed the decision of his predecessor Antonín Staněk, who, shortly before his departure from office last year, revoked the status of cultural monument for the dilapidated Neoclassical building in the heritage zone of the spa town. Staněk stated today on Twitter that he stands by his decision to revoke the heritage protection of the Snake Baths. He perceives Zaorálek's approach as activist and opportunistic. According to him, the fate of the building is not being addressed at all, but rather significantly complicated.

"Based on the appeal of a participant in the proceedings, the appeals committee met again. I received the result and based on that, I definitively decide not to remove the heritage protection of the baths," Zaorálek told reporters today. According to him, the appeals committee supported his original decision from last December, which meant that the Snake Baths would remain a monument. The owner of the baths appealed against it. It is not possible to appeal against the minister's decision as the second-instance authority.

The building of the baths belongs to entrepreneur Jaroslav Třešňák, who originally planned to renovate it and operate baths there. However, heritage preservationists rejected the reconstruction proposals, as they essentially involved the practical demolition of the building and the construction of a new one. Last year, in the final hours of his office, Staněk issued a decision, despite the preservationists, stating that the Snake Baths are no longer a cultural monument. According to some media, this was a gesture towards Třešňák, who was among the largest sponsors of Miloš Zeman's second presidential campaign and also Staněk's biggest supporter on the political scene.

"The revocation of the heritage protection of the Snake Baths was a rational procedure recommended by the appeals committee, which responded to the current real condition of the building and the possibilities of its rescue," Staněk stated today.

He referred to the opinion of the appeals committee at that time, but some media reported that the appeals committee did not recommend revoking the heritage protection. The press department of the Ministry of Culture stated today to ČTK that the current review process concerning the Snake Baths was handled by different panels of the appeals committee than the decision made by Minister Staněk.

Zaorálek had last year requested a review of Staněk's decision and made a decision that the Snake Baths would remain a cultural monument.

Třešňák offered the building to the city for 18 million crowns. The Teplice city council approved the intention to purchase the property based on an expert opinion, for 6.8 million crowns in December. "The city is still waiting for the owner's response," said Teplice Mayor Hynek Hanza (ODS) to ČTK today.

The city estimated the total cost of repairing the Snake Baths at around 20 million crowns. The Neoclassical building had been a cultural monument since 1958 but ceased to serve its original purpose after several renovations at the turn of the millennium.