The Liberec Region continues negotiations with ČRa regarding the purchase of the Ještěd hotel and transmitter

Liberec - The Liberec Region continues negotiations with Czech Radiocommunications (ČRa) regarding the purchase of the Ještěd hotel and transmitter. The building has been a national cultural monument since 2006, but it is not in good technical condition and requires renovations estimated at about 400 million crowns. Both parties have been negotiating the price and terms for the acquisition of the iconic building, which is a landmark of Liberec and the region, for more than a year.

The Ještěd mountain hotel and transmitter has been serving since 1973 and is considered one of the most original architectural works in the Czech Republic. Architect Karel Hubáček received the prestigious international Perret Prize for the project in 1969. People voted the building as the Czech construction of the 20th century.

ČRa has owned the hotel and transmitter since 2000, having acquired it for 85 million crowns and investing additional tens of millions in repairs since then. However, the building requires a major reconstruction after more than 50 years of operation. Last year, ČRa offered Ještěd to the Ministry of Culture, but the ministry is not interested in the valuable building listed on the indicative UNESCO heritage list.

The intention to purchase Ještěd was approved by the regional councilors back in August 2008, when a coalition led by ODS was in charge of the region. At that time, speculation circulated about a price of around 70 million crowns, with one hundred million prepared in the budget for it. After the elections, however, the regional government was formed by ČSSD and did not continue negotiations. At that time, the region allocated the funds to healthcare fees. Even now, the purchase of Ještěd does not have full support in the regional council.