The NPÚ does not consider the repair of Charles Bridge to be successful

Prague - The National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) does not consider the ongoing repair of Prague's Charles Bridge to be successful. It is characterized by many serious problems, according to them. Heritage experts criticize the low level of the craftsmanship in the repair of the railing, excessive stone replacement, or the disregard for generally accepted heritage criteria. ČTK was informed of this by the NPÚ spokesperson Zdeňka Kalová. The magistrate disagrees with the NPÚ's opinion.
    In connection with the ongoing occupancy permit process for the bridge, which should be completed in October, the NPÚ has prepared a document with a "description of all problematic areas." According to Kalová, this was submitted to the investor, which is the Prague magistrate. "The basis for the actual 'resolution of defects and deficiencies' became, however, another document that accepted only 25 percent of the objections formulated by the NPÚ," emphasized Kalová. "For these reasons, unfortunately, the NPÚ cannot consider the completion of this phase of restoring the Charles Bridge to be successful," she added.
    The head of the magistrate's heritage department, Jan Kněžínek, described the NPÚ's comments as a clash of opinions that has persisted since the beginning of the planning of the repair. According to him, "clashes of opinions" are common in the case of such large constructions. Heritage experts reportedly changed their stance on how the repair should proceed during the process. The NPÚ allegedly suggested during the occupancy process that some parts be reassembled, which the magistrate did not agree to. "We tried to accommodate all comments," noted Kněžínek.
    The repair of one of the most famous Czech medieval monuments began in August 2007. Over the course of three years, the pavement was reconstructed, the bridge received new waterproofing, and the railing was repaired. The project, with a budget exceeding 200 million, faced severe criticism, including criminal complaints.
    The cultural ministry's heritage inspection agency opposed the method of repair. According to them, more stone blocks were replaced than the survey recommended. The inspectors were also dissatisfied with the manner in which the stones in the bridge's railing were processed. In this context, Prague received a fine of 3.25 million crowns from the Plzeň regional office, which received the case for assessment. However, the Prague magistrate appealed, and the ministry overturned the fine and referred the case back to Plzeň for a new assessment. The local office aims to issue a new decision by the end of November.
    The NPÚ now claims that it has tried to eliminate the shortcomings pointed out by the ministry's inspection. For example, they replaced the worker who was supervising the work on behalf of the heritage experts. They also worked on detailed implementation documentation, which had previously been lacking. "Despite all efforts, limited by the advisory voice of the NPÚ in the decision-making process, it unfortunately proved possible to achieve real corrections only to a limited extent and only in the case of the last three spans for which the required documentation was prepared and where constant restoration supervision was also ensured," Kalová noted.
    If, according to Kalová, the project preparation had been well done for the previous phases of the repair, many problems could have been avoided.
    Prague has always claimed that no major errors occurred, admitting only minor infractions.
    Following the ongoing repairs, a third phase should follow, during which the bridge's cloak will be restored. According to Kněžínek, this stage should last 15 to 20 years. However, according to the NPÚ, a critical evaluation of the completed repair must be undertaken before its commencement. This task is to be handled by a committee, which the NPÚ intends to convene at the end of the year. Kněžínek agrees with this, stating that the magistrate will contribute to organizing a scientific conference. He added that if deemed appropriate, the ongoing repairs could be reworked during the next phase.
    Charles Bridge is the second oldest preserved stone bridge in the Czech Republic. It replaced the Judith Bridge, which was destroyed by the spring thaw in 1342. Construction began under Emperor Charles IV in 1357 and was completed at the beginning of the 15th century. Its length is 520 meters. Until 1879, it was named the Stone Bridge.