The iconic railway station in the town of Svit below the High Tatras mountain range is nearing completion.
The building is considered one of the finest examples of so-called Baťa architecture, named after famous Czech entrepreneur Tomáš Baťa who was a champion of functionalist architecture. The town itself was built around one of the shoe-manufacturer's factories.
The station, construction of which began in 1948, features an enormous stained-glass window.
Now, after several years, the reconstruction is nearly finished. According to Transport Minister Jozef Ráž, it will see a ceremonial opening with public present.
"Not only will it continue to function as a railway station, but probably after an agreement with the town, it will house a cultural centre," said the minister in a video on social media.
In addition, the reconstruction of the Poprad-Lučivná section of the railway is also finished, which will allow trains to reach the speed of 160 kilometres per hour.
Work began in July 2020. The cost of reconstruction increased several times. Initially, it was supposed to cost €100 million; in the end the price rose to almost €142 million.
