The repair of the castle in Plumlov will be complicated and will increase in cost by 40 million CZK due to wood rot

Plumlov – The repair of the northern facade of the Plumlov Castle in the Prostějov region will become about 40 million crowns more expensive due to extensive damage to part of the roof structure caused by wood rot, and will be delayed. The wood-decaying fungus has damaged part of the roof trusses and ceiling beams to the extent that the stability of this national cultural monument is threatened. Craftsmen have halted restoration work on the top floor of the castle until the wooden roof structure is repaired. Plumlov’s mayor, Gabriela Jančíková (KDU-ČSL), said this today in response to a query from ČTK.

Restorers began the repair of the castle last spring. Its northern facade was already in very poor technical condition, with some elements falling off and posing a risk to visitors. The city has obtained a European grant of 57 million crowns for the reconstruction. The Olomouc region provided an additional ten million crowns, part of the funds was allocated by the city council from its budget, and the proceeds from a public collection will also assist with financing the investment project.

The craftsmen discovered the damage to the roof structure caused by wood rot after they erected scaffolding near the northern wall and uncovered the rafters. Wood rot decays wooden structures from the inside and gradually reduces their strength. The affected beams lose their load-bearing capacity, become brittle, and can deform or collapse. The remediation of the trusses and ceiling damaged by wood rot, which will include the replacement of beams, is expected to take 12 to 18 months. "The 40 million crowns is the estimated additional cost due to the wood rot," noted Jančíková.

Due to complications with the wood rot, Plumlov has requested an additional 20 million crowns from the Olomouc region, and the council approved a ten-million-crown financial infusion this week. The regional councilors also approved an extension of the deadline for using the grants by two years to November 2028. According to the mayor, Plumlov thus gained time to secure further funds for the repair of the roof structure, including a possible new request for a regional grant. Jančíková estimated that the total costs for the castle's reconstruction due to the repair of the roof beams will exceed 110 million crowns.

According to experts, the facade of the northern wall facing the courtyard of Plumlov Castle is unique in the Czech Republic. The wall features stucco decoration including Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns. The facade has a large surface area, as the castle with six above-ground floors is nearly 38 meters high and 63 meters long. It measures only 17.5 meters in width, which makes it one of the narrowest castles in Europe.

Castle Plumlov was built between 1680 and 1688 by Jan Adam of Liechtenstein in close proximity to a medieval serpent. The Plumlov Castle complex consists of a low castle, the remains of a medieval castle, and a narrow tall castle, which is the last Mannerist building in Europe. It was constructed during the high baroque period, when Mannerism had already been a dead style for 60 years. In 1994, the castle was transferred to the ownership of the city of Plumlov, and repairs are carried out continuously. Since 2022, the castle has been on the list of national cultural monuments.