Karlovy Vary want to change the heritage zone to a heritage reservation

Karlovy Vary - Karlovy Vary want to change the current status of the urban conservation zone to a heritage reserve. The city expects that this change could have a positive impact when applying for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. However, the protection of heritage sites within the reserve will not fundamentally change or tighten, Deputy Mayor Jiří Klsák (Karlovy Vary Civic Alternative) informed CTK today.
    Both in the zone and in the reserve, the protection of monuments is governed by relevant laws. According to Klsák, however, places that were previously inscribed on the UNESCO list had the character of a heritage reserve. The only change will be that, for the conservation zone, the authority of heritage protectors ends at its boundary. In reserves, however, they can intervene in the appearance of buildings even beyond their boundaries. "They can thus influence the so-called distant views of the city so that inappropriate buildings do not disrupt them," he stated.
    According to Klsák, the change from a zone to a reserve may occur within a few months in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture. It will be necessary to prepare appropriate documentation for the application and also carry out a passport survey of individual buildings. It is expected that the area of the reserve should correspond to the area of the conservation zone. "This will certainly not mean the end of construction in the reserve. However, we will thoroughly monitor the investors," he added.
    Karlovy Vary is seeking inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List along with other towns in the West Bohemian spa triangle, namely Františkovy Lázně and Mariánské Lázně. They are currently negotiating potential joint actions with other European spa towns, including the German city of Baden-Baden, the French city of Vichy, and the Belgian city of Spa. The Italian Montecatini may also join.