The repair of the Vyšehrad basilica roof will cost 45 million CZK and is expected to last until 2029

Prague - The repair of the slate roof of the Vyšehrad Basilica of St. Peter and Paul is estimated by the chapter that owns it to cost 45 million crowns. Construction work is planned for mid-July and is expected to last until 2029. The consortium of companies Konsit and Střechy Vrňata & Žáčik, which won the tender, will replace almost 60,000 slate tiles and nearly 500 meters of beams. The collegiate chapter at Vyšehrad in Prague plans to raise a significant part of the funds for the repair through a public collection and the sale of artistic items made from slate taken down from the roof. This was stated by church representatives to journalists today. The last major repair of the roof was carried out 40 years ago.

From its own sources, the chapter will invest about 16 million crowns, the Prague city hall will contribute two million crowns, and one million has been promised by the Ministry of Culture. The remaining amount is to be obtained by the owner through a public collection, benefit concerts, and the sale of artistic items made from slate. "The funding for the repair is significantly affected by the fact that the European Union does not contribute to the restoration of monuments in the capital city of Prague. Therefore, we are largely dependent on donors from among citizens and visitors," said the dean of the Vyšehrad chapter Michal Němeček.

The last major roof repair took place from 1984 to 1986, and in 2014 the chapter repaired the most damaged quarter of the roof above the northern side aisle. "Because this side of the church is most affected by weather conditions. From the cemetery, one can distinctly see the difference between the new covering and the deteriorating, crumbling slate," said construction technician Jan Matějovský from the Vyšehrad chapter.

In the current project, the roof above the main nave and the side nave towards the park will be replaced. In addition to replacing the slate, the repair will also restore the original pattern created by architect Josef Mocker, using two colors of slate: gray-black and green. According to the director of the National Cultural Monument Vyšehrad, Petr Kučera, the pattern resembles an inverted lace design, where green slate dominates the upper and lower parts of the roof.

Jiří Martínek, director of the Konsit company's division, stated that the contractual term is 5.5 years, but they will strive to speed up the work. He said that construction work will begin in mid-July, carpentry work at the beginning of August, and roofing work in mid-August. "We do not want to restrict our own operations; we will have a solid structure above the monument, a kind of temporary storage. Restrictions will have to occur in the final phase of the repair," Martínek added.

The Basilica of St. Peter and Paul and the Royal Collegiate Chapter of St. Peter and Paul at Vyšehrad was founded in 1070 by Prince Vratislav II, who became the first Czech king in 1085. The Vyšehrad chapter thus ranks among the oldest institutions in the Czech Republic. The current neo-Gothic appearance of the basilica dates back to 1903. It is based on plans from 1877, developed by Josef Mocker. The basilica has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. In 2003, Pope John Paul II elevated the Vyšehrad chapter temple to a papal basilica minor.