Experts have agreed on the form of the Jihlava Gate of the Mother of God; it will be painted

Jihlava – Experts have agreed on the appearance of the façade of the Jihlava Gate of the Mother of God. To protect the quarried stone from which the monument is built, it will be painted. This is a compromise between the views of some members of the public who wished to preserve the clean stone walls and the smooth plaster that the part of the Jihlava fortifications had centuries ago. This was stated today by representatives of the Jihlava city hall and the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ).

"This solution, from an aesthetic point of view, means the preservation – especially in sharp lateral light, but generally – of the structure of the stone, which is not covered with plaster but is protected by a protective layer," said Petr Severa from the Telč branch of the NPÚ.

According to architect and Jihlava city councilor Jaroslav Huňáček (ODS), the tower will have fine sandy shades, lighter at the top. The light color of the paint will help to ensure that the dark stone does not heat up too much and expand. At the same time, it will serve as a layer that helps prevent cracks, water infiltration, and further damage, Severa added.

The walls made of quarry stone first had to be freed from improperly used cement joints applied during previous repairs. This was followed by strengthening the walls, a process called "wedging" with small stones, which according to Severa is historically correct construction practice. The joints are further protected by a lime plaster, and the walls will also be treated with a lime coating.

The 24-meter-high Gate of the Mother of God is the only surviving gate of the original five central city gates. Its renovation began this spring. The estimated costs, according to Jihlava mayor Petr Ryška (ODS), are about 12 million crowns. Outdoor work is expected to finish in November, while interior work will continue until March next year.

There has been a long debate about the appearance of the restored monument. Among the proposals was to return the plaster or leave two-thirds of the walls in stone, as people know it today.

According to heritage experts, Jihlava built its walls in the 40s of the 13th century. However, the surviving Gate of the Mother of God is about a hundred years younger and stands on the site of the original tower. In the early 16th century, it was supplemented by a massive barbican, an advanced fortification that was demolished in 1862. After a fire in 1551, it was completed in the Renaissance style with a fourth and fifth floor. In a renovation in 1853, a clock was added to it.