The center of Františkovy Lázně should develop thanks to hundreds of millions in investments

Františkovy Lázně - The significant development of the spa center could bring the arrival of investors to Františkovy Lázně. The city is currently negotiating investments worth hundreds of millions of crowns, which would allow the spa center to expand by one street and a row of houses on the western side. The investments are expected to involve two existing buildings, and there is also a plan for a completely new hotel, said the mayor of Františkovy Lázně, Jan Kuchař (PRO), to ČTK.

Currently, both the city and the investors are negotiating with the National Heritage Institute and other institutions. A decision on whether the plans will be realized is likely to be made in the coming months.

One of the investors, according to the mayor, is the company CPI Hotels, which owns the Slovan hotel on Národní třída. The building has been closed for 12 years, is deteriorating, and ceilings are now collapsing. "(CPI hotel) has a complete study on the expansion and reconstruction of the hotel. They would like to open it in 2020. We are currently working on that to make it happen, and another hotel with 150 to 160 beds is to be built," Kuchař said. The renovated hotel should then regain its historic name, Zlatý Anděl.

Since 2012, Lázně I, the so-called Luisiny on Máchova Street, have also been closed. If this investment project is realized, a rehabilitation clinic with 180 to 200 beds should be established there. "It should focus on preoperative and postoperative rehabilitation for total joint replacements, for patients after severe car accidents, and also on acute rehabilitation after strokes," the mayor stated. The place might partially regain its original public spa purpose. The balneotherapy service that remains in the building could, ideally, serve private clients from the public in the afternoon hours.

The third investment is set to be the construction of the Atlantis hotel also on Máchova Street, which would offer another 300 beds. A building permit has already been issued. Each of the planned investments amounts to hundreds of millions of crowns, and if everything is successfully realized, it would mean the development of the spa center practically after 100 years. Along with the potential listing of the city on the UNESCO World Heritage list, it could signify substantial growth for spa tourism in Františkovy Lázně.

However, the city of Františkovy Lázně has ambitious plans as well. In connection with the planned investments, it wants to upgrade the roads in the spa center so that they are distinctly separated from the rest of the city in terms of surface and overall appearance. The overall traffic situation on Národní třída and Máchova Street should also change.