Repair of Karlštejn is set to begin in October, the tender process is being delayed

Karlštejn - The reconstruction of Karlštejn Castle in the Beroun region could begin in October and end at the end of 2022. A large number of companies are interested in the contract and are asking questions about the tender documentation more frequently than usual. The tender is being extended due to clarifications. The deadline for submitting bids is now September 9, Tomáš Pospíšil from the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ) informed ČTK today.

The project includes the restoration of the Imperial Palace and the castle steward's house, new exhibitions will be created, as well as a modern visitor center. The estimated value of the contract, including VAT, is 121 million crowns. The monument will remain accessible during the renovation, but visitors should expect possible one-day or two-day closures.

The final deadline for the tender process has been postponed several times, and the NPÚ does not rule out that this will happen again. According to Pospíšil, applicants are most often asking about the so-called bill of quantities, which is a detailed breakdown of the requested work. Questions relate to the subject of the relevant item or the method of its valuation. According to the NPÚ, it is in the interest of both the client and the applicants that there is complete agreement on what the specific work entails. Any explanation or clarification must be provided to all applicants, and they must be given sufficient time to process it.

"Based on the current state and progress of the tender process, it is expected that a winning applicant will be selected in September. However, we cannot rule out that the client may request clarifications for some bids, which must also be given reasonable time to respond," Pospíšil stated. After the winner is selected, there will still be a period for potential objections to the selection, and only then can the contract be signed. The construction begins with the handover of the construction site to the contractor. This could happen during October, of course, provided no objections arise from any participants, Pospíšil added.

The castle suffers from hidden ailments and high visitor traffic. The aim is to restore the deteriorating ground floor, basement, and cellar areas of the Imperial Palace, the arcade annex, the rock cellar, and the eastern part of the castle steward's house, where a visitor center will be established. Renovation is also planned for the utility garden in the southern bailey and the engineering networks.

The Gothic Karlštejn Castle was founded by Charles IV in 1348. It was built as a place for storing royal treasures, primarily collections of sacred relics and imperial coronation jewels. It is one of the most visited monuments in the Czech Republic, with nearly 224,000 people visiting last year.