Page 157 - UNESCO_Zatec_2021_A4

specific structures devoted to drying of hops have been buildings associated with hop growing (certification
preserved in exceptionally high numbers in this rural facilities, banks, theatre, sacral buildings) were the status
component part as they are located nearly in every single symbols reflecting the prestige and economic power of
farmstead. They exist in several variants and they have the local hop producers.
a strong impact on the image of the landscape and its
visual integrity. They perfectly illustrate the entire hop Historic buildings used for hop drying, processing and
handling process at the primary hop producer in the trading have been preserved in such high numbers,
rural area and bear also different kinds of decoration concentration and authenticity both in the rural area
indicating a connection to hop cultivation. and in the town of Žatec which does not exist in the
same quality elsewhere in the world. The hop processing
The natural centre of this hop growing landscape buildings are special not only for their single purpose
is the town of Žatec, which developed in a close but also for their architectural forms, design and process
relationship with the hop growing culture and is the only equipment preserved inside.
comprehensively preserved urban complex focused on
activities related to processing, certification of origin and
quality of hops as well as international trade which first Criterion (v)
started across Europe and later spread overseas. The The Property is an outstanding example of a traditional
oldest layer of buildings associated with hop production human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is
is represented by numerous lofts in the burgher houses representative of a culture (or cultures), or human
in the centre of Žatec. Their true function is hardly visible interaction with the environment especially when it
from the outside, the only sign of their purpose are typical has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible
front gables with large hatches for transporting hops in change.
and out and a system of typical dormer vents in the roof.
The internal layout of lofts was modified to dry as much Žatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops is an outstanding
hops as possible there despite of the limited space given example of a continuous, never interrupted and, to date,
by the original medieval footprint of the buildings. traditionally used agricultural landscape with traditional
human settlements (villages and a town) focused on a crop
In addition to that, the urban component part also includes with rather specific requirements for climate, growing
a unique ensemble of dozens of other buildings related and processing conditions. The nominated property is
to hops dating back to the late 19 , early 20 century an authentic evidence of continual interactions between 157
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when, as a consequence of the social and economic humans and their environment and a well-preserved
reforms, hop trading became a successful business example of the European cultural tradition in which hops
resulting in an economic boom in the entire Žatec region, have been widely used in beer brewing since medieval
marked by the expansion of hop fields. In this period times. In the past beer brewing was always an integral
the Prague Suburb was transformed into a hop-related part of local farming because it made economic sense
industrial site which is an exceptional ensemble of these and aside the many hop-related attributes the beer has
buildings preserved in the town. During an extremely been still brewed which gives the nominated property
short period of about 40 years nearly one hundred hop additional context. Even today this knowledge is still
drying kilns and multi-storey warehouses were built passed on and deepened. It is a spontaneously preserved
there. They have a distinctive architecture and design part of the hop landscape memory which is widely shared
in which the interior layout was particularly affected by the local community.
by the functional requirements and overall economy
while the exterior design was influenced by the fact that The exceptionally favourable conditions in this
these industrial buildings became an integral part of the landscape are the key reason why hop growing and
urban fabric. The dominant features of the interiors are processing in the nominated property has been
massive wooden load bearing and support structures. preserved without any interruption since medieval
On the other hand, the exteriors are mostly designed times to date. During this entire period, it has never
to look like the town residential buildings of that time. happened that there would be a time when no hops
The real function of these buildings can only be guessed were grown here. Hop growing and processing is an
from the details such as single glazed windows, vents in integral part of the landscape, settlements and life of
the walls and the shape of the roofs from which parts of the local people and there are such strong interactions,
process equipment protrude. They also make the town both formal and mental, between all three of them that
skyline rather unusual displaying a dramatic silhouette it is impossible to separate one from another.
accentuated by distinctive vertical dominants of tall
chimneys situated above the sulphurisation chambers The technical knowhow and skills were further
of the warehouses which are another typical feature of developed and improved on the site of the property from
Žatec. Highly comfortable villas of local hop growers are where they spread under the name of the hop growing
showcases of fine architecture and, for practical reasons, centre – Saaz (Žatec). Hop cultivation largely depends
they were built close to warehouses and like other public on the knowledge and experience of the hop growers