The builders in Neratov are finishing the repair of the glazed roof of the pilgrimage church

Bartošovice v Orlických horách - The second phase of the repair of the glass roof of the pilgrimage church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Neratov in the Rychnov region is in its final stages. Builders, with the help of a crane, are completing the replacement of glass, strips, and brackets for the roof. While the first phase, which concluded in August, focused on the interior of the church, the second phase mainly includes external work and is expected to be completed in November. The total costs for both phases amount to 19 million crowns. Antonín Nekvinda from the Neratov Association, which has been trying to revive the abandoned settlement since the 1990s, stated this today.

The association is working on the repair in collaboration with the Roman Catholic parish of Neratov. The settlement of Neratov in the former Sudetenland falls under Bartošovice v Orlických horách. The glass roof was completed in 2007.

Builders are now installing glass on the roof. "The weather is now favorable for us, which has not been the case until recently. Therefore, we have a slight delay. The scaffolding should disappear from the church by the end of October. Work is ongoing during operation," said Nekvinda.

According to him, the roof repair was necessary because it was leaking. The aim of the work is also to reduce roof moisture and improve the roof's statics. "Of the total amount of 19 million crowns, approximately two-thirds have already been invested. The internal work is completely finished," said Nekvinda. The money for the repair comes from loans, for example from the Hradec Králové Diocese, donations, and the association is also trying to obtain support from the Hradec Králové Region.

The church in the mountain settlement of Neratov is affected by moisture, caused by extreme temperature differences on the ground floor and under the roof of the church, especially during the winter months. Experts will therefore assess the change in conditions inside the building after the repairs, and if necessary, a third phase will follow, involving adjustments in the adjoining part of the roof with the usual covering. "If a third phase occurs, we expect its completion in the spring of 2023," said Nekvinda.

In the first phase, which began in the spring, builders installed braces - rods and reinforced some beams. During the construction of the glass roof, it was anticipated that the roof would expand, which is why it was reinforced with steel cables. Over time, however, it became evident that the roof had a tendency to move closer together, which was also confirmed by statics before the repairs began, who recalculated the roof. Therefore, cables were replaced by rods in some places.

The church of Neratov, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, was built between 1723 and 1733, probably according to the plans of the Italian builder Giovanni Battista Alliprandi. The church's ruin began at the end of World War II when a soldier from the Red Army hit the church with an armored fist. In 1957, the church vaults collapsed, and the building was threatened with demolition.

The Neratov Association has been striving since the early 1990s to revive the abandoned settlement of the same name, known for its restored pilgrimage Baroque church. The association helps the disabled, including people with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities.