Page 82 - UNESCO_Zatec_2021_A4

HOP FIELDS
2.a2 THE SAAZ HOP LANDSCAPE The hop fields within component part 01 are located
(COMPONENT PART 01) near the confluence of the river Ohře and the stream
Blšanka (called Golden stream). Due to regular floods in
Within the Žatecká (Saaz) hop growing region, the Saaz the past, the local soil has always been extremely fertile.
Hop Landscape (component part 01) was chosen as Elevated terrain in the north of the area restricts airflow.
an excellent example of a highly concentrated and for For these reasons, the location provides ideal conditions
hops production continuously used landscape since the for growing hops.
medieval times, bearing all the attributes of growing and
processing hops up to the stage of the sale to wholesalers. Hop fields use wire trellises, the construction principle
of which consists of a wire ceiling formed by transverse
The local hop fields use wire constructures typical of the (supporting) wires connecting transverse rows of
area and they are still in authentic positions. Another supporting poles (wooden, concrete), and in-line thin
important attribute documenting the mutual interaction wires used annually to hang training wires to support the
of man and his environment is proof of technological growth of the hop plants. The wire ceiling is supported
and scientific development in the field of professional by 7 metres high poles, which are distinguished into
hop breeding. It is carried out on research hop fields in central (perpendicular) and marginal (built against the
this component part, and also includes the management direction of tension). The tops of the poles are connected
of the Research Farm in Stekník by the Hop Research by bearing or pulling wires. The perimeter poles are fixed
Institute Co., Ltd., in Žatec. The Institute, founded by the to the terrain with special anchors to ensure the stability
Hop Growers Union of the Czech Republic, is located in of the whole hop trellis.
2. Description hop research centres and plays a key role in breeding According to the Land Register maintained by the
the buffer zone of the property. It is one of world’s leading
2
Czech Republic, the Research Farm of the Hop Research
new hop varieties as well as fighting diseases of the
hops. The Institute also runs a collection of world’s hop
Institute Co., Ltd. in Stekník manages a total of 149.5
VYTVOŘENO VE STUDENTSKÉ VERZI PRODUKTU AUTODESK
varieties which has significant value for the conservation
ha of hop fields (of which 140.2 are located directly in
of natural heritage and biodiversity. The knowledge on
drip irrigation and are continuously used for breeding
the historical development of hop landraces, especially component part 01). All hop fields are under the so-called
of Saaz hops, is of great importance in designating Saaz research, registration, and nutritional experiments,
82 hops as an original high quality noble hops in the world. for pilot plant and operational testing of new growing
technologies and hop varieties. Drip irrigation is used
Component part 01, which is a continuous area, can be to optimise water management. The return of organic
best characterised by the following elements, some of matter to the soil is used for sustainable management.
which are also individually listed and protected cultural Bines cleaned of hop cones, leaves, and other parts of the
heritage assets. plant are cut into small pieces, the so-called "chmelinka,"

2 Land Register - LPIS is a geographic information system (GIS), which consists primarily of records of agricultural land use.
VYTVOŘENO VE STUDENTSKÉ VERZI PRODUKTU AUTODESK VYTVOŘENO VE STUDENTSKÉ VERZI PRODUKTU AUTODESK

Map of the present extent of hop fields of the nominated property (blocks of hop fields marked in green) VYTVOŘENO VE STUDENTSKÉ VERZI PRODUKTU AUTODESK