Mariánské Lázně will extend heritage protection to the spa forests as well

Mariánské Lázně - Mariánské Lázně want to expand the current protected heritage site in the city to include a so-called therapeutic landscape - the surrounding spa forests. Due to the aspiration for the city's inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Mariánské Lázně must also elevate the heritage zone to a heritage reservation. Necessary steps have already been approved by the local councilors, and the proposal will then be submitted by the Ministry of Culture for government approval. However, nothing significant should change for the residents of Mariánské Lázně, said the city's deputy mayor Vojtěch Franta (Pirates).

"The fact that the city of Mariánské Lázně aspires to elevate its heritage zone to a reservation does not mean that there will be any change in heritage protection in the city. Restrictions from the authorities will not increase in any way. But it is important that the zone is to be expanded to include the therapeutic landscape in the surroundings. The impact on people should be minimal because there are almost no houses there," said Franta. Most of the area is already part of the Slavkovský les Protected Landscape Area. In addition to the forests, the expansion will also affect areas around the golf course.

Similar expansions of the protected heritage site and unification of the protection regime are also being prepared by Karlovy Vary and Františkovy Lázně. According to the mayor of Karlovy Vary, Petr Kulhánek (KOA), after approval by the individual councils, the ministry should submit the proposal to the government by the summer of this year.

Since 2006, the Karlovy Vary Region has been striving for the inclusion of the towns in the West Bohemian spa triangle on the UNESCO list. According to the new leadership of the region, the towns should be ready for nomination in January 2018. The West Bohemian spas are to be part of the international serial nomination The Great Spas of Europe along with other towns from seven countries. In addition to Mariánské Lázně, Karlovy Vary, and Františkovy Lázně, the list will also include the towns of Bad Ems, Bad Kissingen, Baden-Baden, Baden near Vienna, Bath, Montecatini Terme, Spa, and Vichy.