People can come to check the repairs of Charles Bridge

Prague - People can come to check the repairs of Prague's Charles Bridge. The builder is organizing an open house on September 19 and 26, when all current construction sites on this historical monument will be open to the public. Miroslav Prášil informed CTK about the event on behalf of the company SMP CZ. The procedures during the reconstruction were sharply criticized by the heritage conservationists in the past.
    Every visitor who comes to see Charles Bridge on the next two Saturdays will receive a gift from the builder. A small block of stone, which masons use for repairing the bridge's railing. On both days, the construction sites will be open from 09:00 to 15:00.
    Charles Bridge is currently under the care of the builders. Reconstruction began in August 2007. The builders are laying new insulation and also replacing stones in the bridge's railing. The progress of the work was sharply criticized by the heritage inspection of the Ministry of Culture, which stated last November that the work on the bridge significantly disrupted the authenticity of this national cultural monument and that Prague violated the heritage law. The city hall, which commissioned the repair, disagrees with the accusations. For what it considers minor offenses, the heritage department imposed a fine of 54,000 crowns on Prague, essentially on itself.
    Charles Bridge, which, along with Prague Castle, is probably the most famous monument in Prague, was commissioned by Charles IV. The foundation stone for the bridge's piers was laid on July 9, 1357. The construction work was undertaken by Charles' court architect, Petr Parléř. Under his leadership, the entrance tower on the Old Town side was completed between 1373 and 1380.