At Ještěd, the restoration of the original interiors from the 1970s continues

Liberec – Work continues on the restoration of the original interiors of the hotel and restaurant at Ještěd in Liberec, which are gradually returning to their appearance from the 1970s. The original lighting at the ends of aluminum profiles, which extends like rays from the center toward the windows, has recently been renovated in the restaurant and lounge. The lights had been out of service for decades, but they shine again now, Milena Lánská from the Ještěd company, which has operated the mountain hotel and restaurant for 25 years, told ČTK today.

The hotel and transmission tower at Ještěd have been serving since 1973 and are considered one of the most original architectural works in the Czech Republic. Architect Karel Hubáček received the prestigious international Perret Award for the project. Since 2006, the building has been a national cultural monument and was voted the Czech building of the century by the people. However, when an exhibition of architectural designs was held years ago, most visitors criticized or outright rejected Hubáček's design. This is documented by the guest book that was discovered while preparing the exhibition celebrating 40 years of Ještěd.

Today, the building is a dominant feature of Liberec and the entire region; no one can imagine Ještěd without it. The Liberec Region is striving to have Ještěd listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since 2000, the owner of the hotel and transmission tower has been Česká Radiokomunikace, which acquired it for 85 million crowns and has invested tens of millions in renovations since then. The monument urgently needs a complete reconstruction, the costs of which are estimated to exceed half a billion crowns.

For several years, efforts have been made, with public support, to restore the original elements in the interiors. The hotel lounge and the Avion bar have returned to their 1970s appearance. Only the bar counter, storage with shelves, and lighting remained from the original elements of the bar. Nothing from the original furniture is left, so the company had to have replicas made with the help of donors. Some hotel rooms have also returned to their original appearance from the time of their inception, albeit with minor changes.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of operations at Ještěd, the operator has prepared a gift for the residents of the Liberec Region – with the code LIBEREC25LET, they can receive a fifty percent discount on accommodations in the hotel during the online booking period from January 2 to 31. The only condition is to prove permanent residency in the Liberec Region upon arrival at the hotel for at least one guest in the room. "The hotel at Ještěd is fully booked for most of the year because its capacity is small, but we wanted those who might not otherwise come to enjoy a night at Ještěd," Lánská added.