Prachatice restored the colonnade, the owner of the spa is in liquidation

Prachatice - The city of Prachatice today opened the restored colonnade in the area of the former spa and a nature trail. It invested 1.7 million crowns. It is also restoring other monuments nearby. This was stated by the mayor Martin Malý (Independents) to ČTK today. The buildings in the spa area belong to the company Resort sv. Markéty Prachatice, which has been in liquidation since January 1, 2016. At the end of 2014, its accumulated loss amounted to over 15 million CZK.

The city holds a 15 percent stake in the company. The company is in liquidation at the request of the shareholders. "The liquidator is trying to sell the assets that remain there. A buyer is still being sought," said Malý, a member of the supervisory board of the company.

When the company was established, the city had a 50 percent stake, which was reduced to 15 percent in 2010. According to Malý, one of the larger shareholders, Ladislav Marek, began to increase the share capital, which the city did not participate in. The assets currently being sold are project documentation and land. Today, the unused buildings of the former spa are empty, "without windows, in a deplorable condition," said Malý. It is an area of approximately eight hectares.

The tradition of spa treatment in Prachatice dates back to the 17th century, reaching its peak in the early 20th century, when about 4,000 people underwent treatment annually before World War I. After 1945, the area gradually functioned as a hospital, dormitory, forest school, housing, and a place for educating foreigners, according to Malý. In the 1990s, doctors privatized the area with the intention of establishing a gynecological center. "However, that project failed (...) the city bought the area back," said Malý. In 2001, then-mayor Jan Bauer (ODS) started the company with a group of entrepreneurs with the approval of the council; the spa was to be finished by 2005.

The city is now investing in another part of the area measuring around ten hectares. This year, it has invested a total of six million CZK, half of which was obtained from subsidies. "There are several beautiful places here that used to serve as forest promenades, pathways, stops, chapels, and a Stations of the Cross. We decided to enhance this whole corner with a beautiful view of the city, a peaceful zone, and somewhat revive the lost glory of spas in our region," said the mayor.

Today, the city opened the restored spa forest promenade, which cost 1.4 million; the costs were covered by a grant from the Ministry of the Environment. "The colonnade has always been here, a system of beautiful retaining walls with niches where benches were located, where music played, and from where there was a lovely view," Malý said.

As of today, the nature trail of the fairy Majolenka with 21 stations illustrated by Zdeňka Študlarová is also open; it offers information about bees and history, including the Golden Salt Trail. The trail cost 300,000 CZK. The city also repaired 300 meters of the adjacent street for 700,000 CZK. By the end of November, Prachatice will also complete a forest play area in the location for 2.1 million.

The city repaired a dilapidated chapel in the area for 1.6 million. Near the promenade, it is restoring a originally Gothic altar for 350,000 CZK. A new animal enclosure with mouflons, fallow deer, sheep, and goats, as well as an educational chalet for tree identification, is also located a short distance from the spa. There is enormous interest in it, added Malý.