Three luxury treehouses under Ještěd are being investigated by the Czech Environmental Inspection, according to authorities they were built illegally

Křižany – Without building permits and the consent of nature conservation authorities, three wooden treehouses with a lookout tower have been built in the Ještěd Natural Park near Křižany in Liberec. The Czech Environmental Inspection has already imposed fines for violating the law, and the building authority in Osečná is now conducting proceedings for the removal of the buildings, stated the daily MfDNES.

The operator offers a luxurious stay experience with a view of Ještěd on the website, and in addition to accommodation, there is also a grill or sauna available. According to ČIŽP, these are commercial accommodation facilities located outside the buildable area of the municipality, where the territorial plan does not permit such constructions. "Despite the imposed fines, the illegal situation in the area continues," the inspection stated. According to them, the constructions negatively affect the landscape character of the Ještěd natural park.

"They deliberately call it a hunting lodge to avoid building permits, because traditional hunting lodges are in a free regime, but they are not intended for accommodation," said construction law expert Tomáš Vítek. However, as soon as the operator refers to it as accommodation and offers it to the public, it is considered a structure that must have the necessary permits from a legal perspective.

The operator of the facilities did not respond to inquiries; the legal representative only stated that the term accommodation in building law can be interpreted differently.