Like any building that has become a brownfield, it must go through a long journey before becoming a fully-fledged part of its surroundings once again.
The time most structures need for this rebirth averages 10 years. However, the most important thing is to step up to the starting line and set off. And that has already happened with the František Tower.
The Municipality of Horní Suchá, which owns the facility, commissioned a reconstruction project and obtained a building permit for the first phase of the renovation. The goal of this first phase, which is divided into two stages, is to provide full access to the entire building—meaning all 9 floors and the roof—and to lay the foundations for a tourist, educational, sports, and social space.
The first step of the reconstruction is completing the facade restoration. Occasional falling pieces of concrete previously posed a risk to anyone moving around the immediate vicinity of the tower. In 2026, the restoration of the southern facade was completed, and work on the western facade began. The total financial cost of restoring both facades exceeds CZK 11 million.
The first stage of the interior reconstruction will begin in autumn 2026. It will include a complete renovation of the tower’s roof, construction of a viewing platform, and repair of the elevator, including the necessary electrical wiring, ventilation, and FAS (fire alarm system). The elevator shaft will be extended to the roof, as will a new staircase. During this stage, a small outdoor mining museum with a number of educational features will also be built around the tower. This entire first stage is co-financed by the “Industrial Space” project (CZ.11.02.01/00/24_014/0000229, Interreg CZ-PL). The total expected financial cost will be around CZK 40 million.
In the second stage, two internal elevators will be added, capable of transporting larger numbers of visitors both to individual floors and to the roof. The necessary electrical wiring will be completed, and access to individual floors will be opened up. Although a subsidy application has been submitted for this stage, we are currently waiting and remaining hopeful.
