In Neratov, the final stage of the renovation of the glass roof of the pilgrimage church begins

Bartošovice v Orlických horách - In Neratov in Rychnov, in a mountain settlement that is part of Bartošovice in the Orlické Mountains, the final stage of the repair of the glass roof of the pilgrimage church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is beginning. The installation of the remaining glass panels in one third of the repaired roof area should ideally take a month, and the church's operations will not be disrupted by the work. Antonín Nekvinda from the Neratov Association, which has been working to revive the depopulated settlement since the 1990s, told ČTK today. The total cost of the roof repair is 19.5 million crowns, including VAT. This year's phase of the reconstruction is estimated by Nekvinda at five million crowns from the total amount.

"This year will see the largest investment in Neratov. Last week it rained, so the start of work has been postponed by a week. They are starting to arrive, and the actual work will commence on Wednesday. The forecast is favorable; it shouldn't rain, and that is crucial," Nekvinda told ČTK.

Work will be conducted from the outside with the help of a crane. Due to weather conditions, the builders had to interrupt the roof reconstruction work for the winter. "It will be about fitting glass above the altar; currently, there are OSB boards, which represent a temporary solution. These will be removed, and special glass will be installed in new frames. The only thing that can complicate the work is the weather. When it rains, it becomes a problem. If the weather holds, it should take a month," Nekvinda told ČTK.

The reconstruction of the church roof, which had been leaking and retaining moisture, began last spring. The association is collaborating on the roof repair with the Roman Catholic parish of Neratov. Funding for the repair comes from loans, such as from the Hradec Králové diocese, and donations. The project has also received support from the Hradec Králové Region. The glass roof was completed in 2007; before that, the church had been nearly roofless for almost 50 years.

According to Nekvinda, the roof repair is necessary, with the aim of reducing roof moisture and improving the roof's structure. Last year, builders reinforced the roof structure and installed new glass in approximately two-thirds of the area, especially above the main nave of the church. The work was done while the church was in operation, and the work was paused during the winter. "The church is generally accessible during the work," Nekvinda told ČTK.

The church was built between 1723 and 1733, probably according to the plans of the Italian builder Giovanni Battista Alliprandi. The church's decline began at the end of World War II when a soldier of the Red Army struck the church with an armored fist. In 1957, the vaults collapsed, and the building was threatened with demolition. The Neratov Association, in addition to its long-term efforts to revive the eponymous depopulated settlement, helps people with disabilities, including those with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities.