Page 90 - UNESCO_Zatec_2021_A4

of related infrastructure such as banks, post offices,
2.a3 ŽATEC (COMPONENT PART 02) railway stations, schools, theatres and cinemas.

Žatec (component part 02) consists of the oldest parts
of the town of Žatec, its historical core and its Prague BURGHER HOUSES
Suburbs. For this reason, the name of the town has been From the very beginning, the appearance of the town
used for nomination purposes. The component part of Žatec has been determined mainly by natural and
contains many unique structures representing the built geomorphological conditions. The oldest settlement
hop-related heritage: warehouses, sulphur chimneys, locality was created for strategic reasons on a promontory
hop drying kilns, and includes many other important above the river Ohře. Its elongated shape, copied by the
buildings with excellent architecture. With its preserved line of the walls on the edge of the promontory limited the
urban structure, the component part clearly maintains possible building development. Therefore, due to the lack
the concept of the centuries-old development of the of space, new buildings could not be created for drying
town in relation to the hop industry. Its overall image hops in the inner area of the town, and the roof spaces
embodies past and present activities concerning the of burgher houses were used for this purpose. In the roof
social life and cultural tradition of the town as it contains spaces of many houses, the hops were dried naturally due
tangible elements expressing the social values associated to the airflow; then, they were also stored here before the
with the processing of hops and trade. A reference to hop sale. Many houses still reflect Gothic parcelling in their
traditions is also the tradition of the colour of structures, proportions, and many of their constructions date back
architectural details, or motifs in paving, currently to the Middle Ages when the hop cultivation and trade
being developed in a consistent visual form within the were already an important means for the inhabitants of
2. Description hops, in which colour shades of green hops are applied of stone houses reflects the wealth of the hop traders,
the town in ensuring their existence. The impressive size
component part. Elements of urban interiors refer to
who often also traded in wine, fabrics, and barley. Many
to the facades of houses and a number of decorative
other buildings were renovated or newly built in the
motifs of hop cones are used including up to the present
Baroque style in the early modern period when Saaz hops
for example, in gradually installed identification plates
with house numbers and street names.
The component part 02 contains all the standard types of had a high reputation in Central Europe.
The constructions of hop roof spaces of burgher houses
buildings with the functions of a historic town founded were adapted to the needs of hop processing. Even the
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in the Middle Ages, as well as a particular architectural preserved historic roof structures are large enough to
heritage, associated with its relationship to the withstand the burden of the seasonal drying of hops,
cultivation and business of hops. It is these structures their usable spaces are often multi-story, with solid
that important attributes of outstanding values within floors secured on the sides with anti-fall elements,
the nominated property can be found and they can be complemented by handling openings and winches/
divided into four categories according to their function. pulleys for handling hop bales. The roof spaces are
There are buildings of burgher houses, structures separated from the rest of the house by a metal fire door
associated with the processing of hops, and buildings and are accessible by grand brick stairs. From the outside,
reflecting the socio-economic effect of business with roofs with a hop drying function are well recognisable. To
hops, which are villas of hop entrepreneurs and buildings this day, they are equipped with a system/rows of typical

View of Žatec town from the north-west, Žatec, 2016