The train station in Chotyně is officially a cultural monument

Chotyně – The railway station in Chotyně near Hrádek nad Nisou in the Liberec Region is officially a cultural monument. Minister of Culture Lubomír Zaorálek (ČSSD) confirmed the previous decision of his ministry when he rejected the appeal that the Railway Administration had filed to overturn the decision. This was reported today by Czech Television, and Ivana Awwadová from the ministry's press department confirmed it to ČTK.

"It has been proven that the station building has historical, architectural, and urbanistic value. It has a high degree of authenticity," Awwadová stated.

The dilapidated and long-unused Art Nouveau building from 1859 was intended to be demolished by the Railway Administration (SŽ) and replaced with a shelter. SŽ spokesperson Nela Friebová stated today for ČTK that they respect the ministry's decision. "We will halt the preparations for repairs, which included the demolition of the masonry part of the building, and in accordance with the decision on heritage protection, we will address the next steps. That is, a new scope of repairs and possible uses of the building," she added.

Chotyně's mayor Jana Mlejnecká (NEZ) is pleased with Zaorálek's decision. The municipality has long been striving to save the Art Nouveau building. "We were waiting for confirmation from the minister, and after Christmas, we will engage in some negotiations with the Railway Administration to have them start the repairs," she said today for ČTK.

The Railway Administration wanted to demolish the building because the station has not been staffed for a long time. The municipality aims to have the building serve not only the needs of SŽ and passengers but also to allow scouts to establish a base in it. "In my opinion, this is the only meaningful use, at least it will have life," the mayor said today. The municipality wants to agree on this solution with SŽ.

The Chotyně train stop was built on one of the oldest steam railways in the country. It is partly a wooden building that stands out from regular stations in its appearance. According to the Ministry of Culture, because the building has not been used since the 1990s, it has undergone almost no modern modifications. Thus, many original elements and details have been preserved, such as the roof covering, wooden structural and decorative parts, paving, and surface finishes. "From a heritage perspective, this object represents great historical value, as its history is closely tied to the historical development of the municipality and serves as evidence of the historical development of the railway in the region," Awwadová added. In addition to the municipality, the Liberec Region also sought the declaration as a cultural monument, and a petition for the station's preservation was created, signed by more than a thousand people.