Liberec Region drops out of Ještěd bid

The Liberec Region, in northern Bohemia, has ended negotiations with the firm České Radiokomunikace about the planned purchase of Ještěd hotel and TV tower, the deputy regional governor told the press on Wednesday. The region had earmarked some 100 million crowns, or more than 5.3 million US dollars, in its budget to this end, but regional council members decided to use the money to fund road repairs instead. The award-winning hotel and TV tower was built in 1973 at the top of Ještěd Mountain overlooking the city of Liberec. The region would like to have it included in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites but the building is in urgent need of renovation.