November 2025
Františkovy Lázně is a historic spa town in Czechia, known for its peat mud treatments, the bright, airy townscape and its classic architecture. Františkovy Lázně is one of the three towns within the West Bohemian Spa Triangle, and one of the eleven towns included in The Great Spa Towns of Europe; a serial, transnational UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This week, the town’s railway station opened after a period of restoration. The building has been restored to its original, historic appearance, while also offering modern facilities. The light pink façade, based on the original colour scheme, is also striking.
Train stations are a key example of spa architecture and spa support infrastructure. They were necessary to enable spa guests to travel to the spa towns, and were the first thing people would see upon arrival. The buildings often display strong examples of spa architecture, in a range of international styles.
Jiří Svoboda, CEO of Správa železnic (Railway Administration)
“Františkovy Lázně has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2021, and the station building itself is part of the urban conservation area. The construction work was therefore carried out under the supervision of conservationists, who, among other things, decided on the light pink color of the facade. This was typical of the Saxon railways, which originally owned the local station,”
The roof also regained its original appearance, both in terms of colour and the materials used. The shape of the historic cornices also represents a return to the time when the station was built. Interior renovations included a complete restoration of the floors, walls, and ceilings, as well as the refurbishment of doors and windows. All interior installations were carried out according to modern standards.
Karel Volf, CEO of Metrostav CZ
“The reconstruction of the station building in Františkovy Lázně presented us with a number of technical and organizational challenges. During the work, we discovered extensive damage to the wooden structures caused by dry rot, which required a change in the design and technological solution.
Our implementation team, together with representatives of the investor, managed to minimize the impact of these changes, and we are handing over a building that will have a supporting structure with a longer service life than originally planned.
We are pleased to have been able to participate in a project that restores the charm of the station building while increasing comfort for all who use it on a daily basis,”
Františkovy Lázně railway station has reopened.
The builders also modernised the check-in hall, including the entrances, and all publicly accessible areas are now fully wheelchair accessible. In addition to ticket offices, passengers will also find a refreshment stand there. Comfortable facilities for carriers and Railway Administration employees were also created.
The project also included the construction of an access road directly to platform 1. Bicycle parking spaces and electric bike charging stations were built in close proximity to the building.
A total of 11 apartments were restored on the upper floors. During the renovation, workers discovered historic half-timbered partitions that needed to be preserved. During construction, the layout of the apartments was modified so that they could remain an authentic reminder of the railway architecture of the period.
A similar case was the discovery of historic paving on the platform after newer asphalt layers were uncovered. After consultation with conservationists, the large-format granite slabs were refurbished and used for the sidewalks in front of the station building.
Václav Lebeda, spokesperson for the European Commission Representation in the Czech Republic
“Thanks to European support and extensive reconstruction, Františkovy Lázně has gained a dignified gateway to the city, which will be used not only by locals but also by visitors from all over the world. In addition, the historic building is now significantly less energy-intensive, which is also one of the objectives of the support,”
The total cost of the construction reached CZK 252,161,484. The work was carried out by Metrostav DIZ and AVERS. The project to reconstruct the station building at Františkovy Lázně railway station is proposed for co-financing by the European Union through the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM). The project is also financially supported by a loan from the European Investment Bank as part of the Czech Rail TEN-T and Regional project. National financing is provided by the State Fund for Transport Infrastructure.
The Great Spa Towns of Europe
The Great Spa Towns of Europe is a serial, transnational UNESCO World Heritage Site comprised of eleven spa towns across seven European countries. Together, these towns comprise one ‘property’ .
From the hundreds of spa towns across Europe, these eleven are the most authentic examples of the European spa phenomenon. As epicentres for social, cultural and political innovations, these spa towns shaped architecture, urban design, medicine, health and wellness tourism and modern European identity.
The site was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on 24th July 2021; the highest international recognition for global cultural and natural heritage sites. The Site is managed by The Great Spa Towns of Europe Association, formally registered in August 2022 in Baden bei Wien, Austria.