The Elizabeth Baths in Karlovy Vary will have a new roof

Karlovy Vary – Alžbětiny lázně in Karlovy Vary will finally get a new roof after years of delays. The city hall has secured enough funds to repair the municipal spa's roof, which is in a state of disrepair. Work worth 58 million crowns will begin next week, said Miroslav Vaněk (Karlovaráci), deputy mayor of Karlovy Vary, to journalists today.

"Yesterday, the construction site was handed over, which means that next week the construction company that won the competition for the general repair of the roof of Alžbětiny lázně will start work, which will take place in eight phases and will last a total of 24 months," Vaněk noted. He added that the repair will be funded by Karlovy Vary from its budget.

The city secured 50 million thanks to an agreement with the Karlovy Vary Region, which purchased two school buildings from the city that house regional schools. The city committed to using the entire amount for the repair of the historic municipal spa, which urgently needs investment.

According to Vaněk, the roof is in a completely critical condition, and rainwater is leaking into the building. It will therefore be necessary not only to replace the roofing but also to repair the trusses, install new roof windows, and insulate the attic. This should also lead to lower energy expenses. Alžbětiny lázně was originally built as a seasonal spa facility, which was closed in winter. However, it now operates year-round.

The city has been trying to address the poor condition of the building, which dates back to 1906, for many years. The operation of the municipal spa is unprofitable. While Alžbětiny lázně used to serve as a spa facility for many hotels in the city, over the past 20 years, hotels have built their own spa facilities. As a result, the number of clients at Alžbětiny lázně has decreased. Due to long-term unprofitable management, this year the city leadership decided to convert the current joint-stock company into a contributory organization. Alžbětiny lázně is expected to become a contributory organization at the beginning of next year. Among other things, this will give them a better chance to receive more favorable conditions for grants.