Žatec a krajina žateckého chmele

World heritage

Žatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops represents an important site associated with unique history of continuous development in cultivation, processing and international trading with hops which is an important ingredient in the beer brewing process all over the world.

This cultural landscape is situated in the north west of the Czech Republic, in the basin of Žatec, by the middle of the course of the river Ohře, and consists of two component parts which naturally complement each other and jointly represent the uniqueness of the local hop heritage.

Rural component, Saaz Hop Landscape, contains the most valuable and fertile hop fields in the region, on which hops have been grown for centuries and have been subjected to long-term breeding research, as well as historic settlements and buildings associated with the processing of harvested hops.

The center of hop region is town of Žatec which is significant by the amounts of technical buildings related to hop processing, storing, trading and export to the world.

On Monday, September 18, 2023, at a meeting of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it was decided to inscribe the hop landscape and the town of Žatec, its center, on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Žatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops - UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2023

The Outstanding Universal Value of Žatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops lies in three criteria

Tradition of hop growing

Tradition of hop growing, processing, breeding and trading

Hop fields, kilns, warehouses and packing plants

Hop fields, kilns, warehouses and packing plants

Centuries-shaped hop-growing landscape

Centuries-shaped hop-growing landscape

Žatec a krajina žateckého chmele

Why Are We a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

The impact of hop cultivation, harvesting, and processing is clearly recognizable and visible in the following attributes:

Cultural landscape

Cultural Landscape →
Settlement structure

Structure of settlements →
Architectural and technical values

Architectural
and Technical Values →
Visual attribute

Visual Attribute →
Specific attributes

Specific Attributes →

UNESCO World Heritage Management System

Žatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops

Steering Group (SG)

The group was established based on Memorandum of Cooperation in the area of promotion and management of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It consists of members nominated by the signatories of the memorandum.
The group is a coordination, advisory and monitoring body for the management of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, overseeing the implementation of the Management Plan.
The SG is chaired by the site manager, with the UNESCO World Heritage coordinator serving as secretary.

City of Žatec

The city is the project leader. The site manager position is held by appointed councilor Jaroslav Špička. Within the structure of Žatec Municipal Office, a UNESCO Unit has been established with World Heritage coordinator Mgr. Olga Bukovičová and World Heritage educator Petr Bažant.
The City Council of Žatec also establishes 3 thematic commissions for marketing, education and heritage care related to the World Heritage Site.

City Council Commissions

Commission for Marketing of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Žatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops
Commission for Education of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Žatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops
Commission for Care of Hop-Growing Built Heritage of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Žatec and the Landscape of Saaz Hops

UNESCO Unit

The Unit manages an independent budget for marketing, educational and scientific projects. It collaborates with other Municipal Office departments and cultural organizations regarding the World Heritage Site.

Municipality of Zálužice

Within the administrative jurisdiction of the municipality lies a substantial part of the landscape component of the Saaz Hop Landscape - the village of Stekník.
The mayor of the municipality is a member of the Steering Group. www.zaluzice.cz

National Heritage Institute

In Stekník there is a publicly accessible heritage asset, Stekník Chateau, which is state-owned property. The Institute provides methodological and consultative participation in the protection of the World Heritage Site and also ensures the monitoring of its state of conservation.
The Director of the National Heritage Institute, Regional Office in Ústí nad Labem, is a member of the Steering Group. Stekník Chateau · National Heritage Institute

Hop Growers Union of the Czech Republic

The city of Žatec is traditionally home to several organizations connected with hop cultivation, trade and research. Hop growers in the Žatec region are united in the Hop Growers Union of the Czech Republic, headquartered in Žatec. The Union provides support to growers and maintains hop-growing tradition through the publication of the magazine Czech Hop.
The secretary of the Union is a member of the Steering Group. czhops.cz

CHMELARSTVI, cooperative Žatec

The organization unites Czech and Moravian hop growers. The cooperative is primarily engaged in purchasing, storing, processing and trading hops. The cooperative also contributes to the preservation of hop-growing traditions and operates the Hop Museum, the largest exhibition of its kind in the world.
The chairman of the cooperative's board is a member of the Steering Group. chmelarstvi.cz

Hop Research Institute

A scientific research institution engaged in hop cultivating and protection. It operates specialized farming in Stekník and applies research results to substantial parts of the hop fields in the landscape component.
The managing director of the company is a member of the Steering Group. chizatec.cz

Ministry of Agriculture

The Ministry of Agriculture is the central state administration body that ensures the legislative framework, regulation, support and promotion of Czech hop growing. It maintains a register of growers and hop fields, oversees hop certification through the Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture (ÚKZÚZ), and ensures the protection of designation of origin, particularly the PDO "Žatecký chmel" (Saaz Hops).
The head of the special crops department is a member of the Steering Group. mze.gov.cz

Ústí Region

The Ústí Region plays a coordinating, developmental and supportive role in relation to the World Heritage Site. It establishes grant programs supporting promotion in the field of tourism and financing and protection of heritage.
The Regional Councilor for Culture and Heritage Care is a member of the Steering Group. kr-ustecky.cz

Faculty of Architecture, Czech Technical University

The Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University has long been dedicated to the built heritage in Žatec and the surrounding landscape. Using student projects, it helps find alternative uses for specific hop-related buildings.
The head of the Institute of Heritage Care at FA CTU is a member of the Steering Group. fa.cvut.cz

SG Documents