The Heritage Institute establishes a committee for Charles Bridge

Prague - The National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) is establishing two committees that will focus on the restoration of Charles Bridge. One will guarantee the repair of the bridge on behalf of NPÚ, while the other will focus on research and documentation. The institute states this on its website.
    The repair of the most significant Czech monument, which began in 2007, became the target of harsh criticism from the monument inspection of the Ministry of Culture last year. According to the inspectors, Prague violated the monument preservation law during the repairs, and the work disturbed the historical authenticity of the bridge.
    Another group, which will deal with the monument’s reconstruction, was formed at the Ministry of Culture. It includes the heads of the heritage and property department of the municipality, directors of NPÚ, the heritage inspection, and the heritage department of the Ministry of Culture, along with the first Deputy Minister František Mikeš (ODS). "The group will meet every three months, will have access to the outputs from the NPÚ committee, but will primarily operate on-site and address any problems," said Jan Cieslar, spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, to ČTK.
    In response to the inspectors’ sharp criticisms, Prague, as the owner of the monument and the commissioning party for the repairs, as well as the company carrying out the work, voiced its objections. Later, Minister of Culture Václav Jehlička (KDU-ČSL) moderated the words of his subordinates, stating that there had been no fundamental destruction of the monument. According to him, many mistakes can be corrected and in the future, a more cautious approach should be taken. Neither he nor the heritage department of the municipality wish to impose a fine on Prague for the bridge's repairs. According to the amendment to the monument preservation law effective from last year, a fine of up to four million Czech crowns is possible for damaging a national cultural monument, of which Charles Bridge is one.
    The inspectors see the violation of the monument preservation law in that Prague did not inform the archaeological institute at the preparation stage that it would be carrying out repairs on the bridge, did not have a complete and updated historical survey, nor did it have documentation on how it would specifically address the repair of the railing.
    While Prague did submit documentation, it was only after a year from the start of repairs. According to Ondřej Ševců from NPÚ, the problem lies in the current practice, where the project documentation is completed based on the actual condition of the structure. Such an approach is firmly rejected by the inspection.
    Due to the current system of monument care referred to as duality, NPÚ is somewhat sidelined in the entire dispute. Although the public perceives it as the main guarantor of heritage care and, thus, the restoration of Charles Bridge, according to the law, NPÚ’s voice is only advisory, and the actual decision-making authority lies with the executive body, in this case, the heritage department of the Prague municipality.
    Last week, NPÚ organized a workshop for the restoration of the bridge, attended by its experts and the heritage inspection. Because the historical survey and documentation are still lacking, NPÚ decided to provisionally ensure the processing of the historical survey itself. It has called on the owner to contribute to its financing.
    According to NPÚ, the poor quality of stonework on the bridge should also be addressed immediately - either by a fundamental change in the investor's approach or by replacing the stoneworking company. The institute also suggests considering the establishment of a stonecutting workshop, which has historically always existed by the bridge. It should begin operating during the current repairs of the bridge and later ensure its ongoing repairs, so as to avoid having to resort to similarly drastic one-time repairs as today, say the heritage experts.