The Zdík Palace is awaiting an extensive reconstruction costing tens of millions of crowns

"Currently, only part of the Zdík Palace is accessible. We plan to make the other two wings above the cloister, which lead outside, accessible after the reconstruction, and which will offer almost direct contact with the Cathedral of St. Wenceslas, which is located in close proximity. The goal of the reconstruction is to present the monument in a better way and to open it to the public," said Miroslav Kindl from the Museum of Art in Olomouc to ČTK. According to him, the reconstruction should start in 2020, and work is currently being done on the project documentation and subsequent building permit.

In the 20th century, the Zdík Palace was studied by art historians and archaeologists. In connection with the declaration of the area as a national cultural monument in 1962 and the effort to make it accessible to the public, architect Jan Sokol, along with Miloslav Burian, developed a study by 1969 that clearly distinguished modern interventions from the original structures. "Thanks to this, it was possible in the 70s and 80s to raise the roofs above the ambulatory, uncover the Romanesque windows, and install a gallery for visitors to the palace," said museum spokesperson Tomáš Kasal.

However, according to Kindl, Sokol's plans were not fully realized, and the original reconstruction became a semi-finished product. "We believe that this national cultural monument no longer meets the requirements for presentation, and the current method of presentation is becoming outdated, not only aesthetically but also technically. This is why we want to fix it," Kindl added.

The second phase of the reconstruction of the area, which is currently being prepared, is based on the project of architect Jan Šépka, who follows the original Sokol's intention and incorporates elements into the palace that clearly distinguish themselves from the historical parts. It intentionally limits itself to modern materials such as concrete, glass, and metal. Additional exhibition spaces should be created in the attic of the main building of the deanery, and new access to the palace is also being designed. "The most significant change will be that by lowering the roofs, windows to the chapel of St. Anne will be uncovered, allowing natural light to enter the chapel," added Miroslav Kindl.

The creation of the Romanesque bishop's palace, previously known as the Přemysl Palace, is associated with the construction of the Church of St. Wenceslas, which was founded in the early 12th century by the Olomouc prince Svatopluk. The construction was completed by Bishop Zdík of Olomouc. Next to the church, he had a representative palace built, which was connected to a smaller cloister with a rectangular floor plan and a chapter house intended for the communal life of the priests. The palace has since been reconstructed several times. Its transformations are part of a new exhibition at the Archdiocesan Museum titled "Here You Are - Václavské náměstí Through the Changes of Time."