On 30 September 2026 the councillors of the town of Aš approved the purchase of the former Goethe hotel for roughly 17 million crowns in order to prevent its conversion into a hostel.
The councillors of the town of Aš in the Cheb area approved, at an extraordinary meeting on 30 September 2026, the purchase of the former Goethe hotel on Čapkova street. The owner offered the town the premises, that is, the buildings and land at the corner of Čapkova and Nádražní streets, for roughly 17 million crowns [1][2].
Vote
According to town spokesman Milan Vrbata, a majority of councillors voted for the purchase, two abstained, one voted against and five did not attend the meeting. It was the only item on the agenda. The town will acquire the premises once the contract is signed [1][2].
Reasons
The hotel is approved for use as a hostel, has about 50 rooms and roughly 120 beds, and has a restaurant on the ground floor. According to the town, the seller said that another investor was interested in the property and would use it as a hostel. The town wants to keep control over how the property is used. Deputy mayor Pavel Matala (ZA AŠ) said that the town hall has long been dealing with the concentration of socially disadvantaged residents in some parts of the town. According to the sources, Aš struggles with hostels run by so-called poverty profiteers, where people paying high rents from social benefits often live [1][2].
Referendum and further plans
The future of the hotel was originally to be decided in a referendum that was being prepared for the date of the October municipal elections. At the September meeting, however, a majority of councillors leaned towards the purchase, and the proposal for a referendum did not win support. Mayor Vítězslav Kokoř (ANO) said that the leadership did not want to end its term with such a large investment and commit the town's future leadership [1].
Flats are to be created in the building in future, and according to the Czech News Agency the operation of the hotel and restaurant may also continue. The town has in the past bought several other properties that served as hostels and is gradually converting them into flats [1][2].
Chronology
- — At an extraordinary meeting, the councillors of the town of Aš approved the purchase of the former Hotel Goethe in Čapkova Street for about 17 million crowns, to prevent its conversion into a hostel. Karlovarská Drbna iDNES.cz: Karlovy Vary
Sources
- Karlovarská Drbna — 2 October 2026
- iDNES.cz: Karlovy Vary — 2 October 2026