The Judicial Palace in Olomouc has undergone extensive renovation, highlighting its history

Olomouc - The Neo-Renaissance judicial palace on Svobody Boulevard in Olomouc, which houses the district court, has undergone extensive renovations. Builders repaired the roof and facade over the course of two years, while the construction work also highlighted the history of this building, which was completed in 1902. Veronika Ornerová, the chairwoman of the Olomouc district court, told ČTK today. The costs amounted to 120 million crowns.

In the building, which stands on one of the main streets of Olomouc, the regional court and archives were originally located. It now meets the capacity needs of the district court. The renovation of the palace was deemed absolutely necessary by the court's management. "The original metal roof, which was about 60 years old, was already leaking. The facade from 1902 was also on the brink of restoration. Now the building has been restored to its original form," the chairwoman stated.

The vast four-winged building, with two wings, which is connected to a detention center, also received a new copper roof. The builders were able to preserve and, above all, restore a large number of historical elements. "I am glad that in a city like Olomouc, it is possible to preserve some monument," remarked Justice Minister Pavel Blažek (ODS) today. He added that "to judge, you need nice spaces."

The construction was not simple for the contractors, especially considering its location and heritage protection. "There were countless historical elements; the coordination of crafts and access to the construction site was demanding since we were working in the city center. The prison service and the detention center cooperated with us, allowing us to use their courtyard, which was special for us to supply materials. Additionally, as it is a cultural monument, we had to monitor the work processes. Restorers also participated in the implementation of the project," said site manager Marek Bejdák to ČTK today.

The renovation of the judicial palace had been planned since 2020, and work began in July 2023. The construction work significantly impacted the operations at the court. "During this period, the work affected the court significantly; scaffolding was erected, films were installed - judges and staff had no ventilation, no access to natural light, and there was a lot of noise and dust. It was quite burdensome for us, but it did not manifest in the court's operations," added the chairwoman. She mentioned that hearings were also moved to various courtrooms according to eight construction phases.

The complex of buildings of the judicial palace was built according to the plans of the Viennese architect Alexander von Wielemanns and was completed in 1902. Since the late 1950s, the building has been listed as a property cultural monument. At the entrance, it is adorned with two life-sized lion sculptures on the pedestal, and the facade of the court features a clock tower and an allegorical statue of Justice.