The church in Plzeň is seeking funds for the repair of the cathedral roof, which is in critical condition

Plzeň – The local bishopric is searching for missing funds to repair the roof of St. Bartholomew's Cathedral in Plzeň. The roof, installed about 35 years ago, is in critical condition. Slate tiles are cracked in many places or completely missing, allowing water to seep in and damaging the framework. The bishopric began repairs on the roof above the main nave in January, but progress has revealed additional damaged areas that require immediate professional intervention, said Iva Fictumová, head of the bishopric's project department.

"A close-up view revealed that the condition of the slate roof and the historic framework is more serious than it may seem from the square," Fictumová stated. The project, costing 85 million crowns, includes not only the roof repair but also the establishment of a Digital Visitor exhibition that will guide tourists through the Gothic cathedral and its framework. The EU will support the project with 39 million crowns, while the Plzeň region will contribute three million. The mayor of Plzeň, Roman Zarzycký (ANO), has also promised to contribute, but discussions will only take place in the new council due to the upcoming elections. "I personally expect that it will be a few million crowns," he said.

The bishopric currently has 65.5 million crowns for repairs but is missing 19.5 million crowns. People can contribute to a public collection organized by the Dominanty Foundation for the restoration of cultural heritage in western Bohemia. The roof repair over the main nave includes adding beams totaling 5.2 kilometers in length and covering a roof area of 1,576 square meters, which involves nailing approximately 55,000 slate tiles.

"Of course, the roof over the presbytery would also need to be repaired, but that would require additional funds that are not available. Currently, slate has been removed from both the south and north. New boarding has already been installed on the southern side. On the northern side, which faces the town hall, the repair of the framework is currently underway. It is original and needs to be repaired because water has seeped into the roof. There are really many patches needed," Fictumová noted. According to her, the bishopric expects that the upper roof should be covered by winter.

The cathedral, which began construction around 1340, completed a three-year interior renovation in 2021 at a cost of more than 100 million crowns. At the time of the renovation planning, the bishopric did not have the opportunity to check the condition of the roof using drones; otherwise, the interior and roof would likely have been repaired simultaneously, mentioned Bishop Tomáš Holub. "The cathedral is not only a landmark of Plzeň but also a living place of faith, gathering, and shared memory of the city. The condition of the roof shows that there was no longer any possibility to wait for its repair," he stated.

It is estimated that over 100,000 people visit the freely accessible cathedral annually, with others coming for services or cultural and spiritual events. The removed slate will not end up in a landfill; the bishopric will donate it to the Plzeň Zoo, where it will be used for landscaping enclosures and facilities for the animals.