Experts will examine the Old Town Bridge Tower in Prague and repair the windows

Prague – Experts will examine the Old Town Bridge Tower on Prague's Charles Bridge. The municipal company Prague City Tourism (PCT) will sign a contract with a firm to carry out the work by the end of February. At the same time, PCT is evaluating bids in the tender for geodetic surveying. The tower will also receive repairs to the windows on the third floor. PCT spokeswoman Klára Janderová informed ČTK. PCT also plans to begin a survey of the Powder Tower in June.

According to Janderová, the architectural-historical survey will start with a theoretical section immediately after the contract is signed, meaning an archival research and a detailed description of the roof structure. The survey should last approximately two years. When describing the condition of the roof, experts will determine the age of the wood and create precise photographic documentation of the monument.

The survey will follow the geodetic surveying of the tower, for which PCT is currently evaluating price offers for processing. Besides surveying, the winner of the tender will also provide so-called photogrammetry, which deals with the reconstruction of shapes, measurement, or determining location based on photographic images. The results of the examination will serve as a basis for a thorough analysis of stone blocks and an estimation of the age of individual materials. According to the spokeswoman, the experts will start work soon and it will take about a year.

"The conclusions from the above will serve as input materials for their ongoing processing into project documentation for the complete repair of the building, documentation for the building permit, and documentation for the construction execution," Janderová stated.

In addition to the overall inspection and repair of the tower, PCT is also preparing repairs for the windows on the third floor. The windows are significantly damaged, primarily due to rotting frames of the window sashes. The windows on the western side of the tower, where the damage is greatest, will be refurbished first.

This year, experts will also examine the facade and architectural elements of the Powder Tower. They will assess the condition of the stones and clean the facade. The results of the survey will serve for a potential reconstruction of the tower. At the same time, restorers will repair the keystones on the tower's walkway.

PCT is a company owned by the capital city of Prague. It is responsible for tourism and cares for seven Prague towers, including the Petřín Lookout Tower and the Old Town Hall.