The repaired rotunda in the Old Town could be opened to the public

Prague - The Chapel of the Finding of the Holy Cross at the corner of Karolína Světlá and Konviktská streets in Prague's Old Town, which is currently being reconstructed, could partially open to the public after the work is completed. This was stated to reporters today by Prague councilor Jan Chabr (TOP 09). The city began repairing the roof of this Romanesque monument from the first half of the 12th century in winter, and it should be finished by the end of September. During the work, workers discovered unique sandstone cladding.

The building, which is one of three Romanesque rotundas preserved in the broader center of the metropolis, is owned by the city and is used by the Old Catholic Church. "We would like to agree that this monument should not serve only the Old Catholic Church, but that it could be made accessible to Prague residents and visitors to the capital on certain days, as it is truly a unique building," said Chabr.

The reconstruction is primarily focused on the roof, where the work revealed a valuable find of original sandstone roofing from the 12th century. "Sandstone is a stone that has been commonly used in construction in Prague since the earliest times up until the modern age, but it is entirely exceptional and only in the Romanesque period possible that it was used as a roofing material. Experience with its properties must have later led to the fact that sandstone was no longer used for this purpose, as it is unsuitable," said Ladislav Bartoš from the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ).

According to him, the slabs remained preserved because they were already covered with additional layers of roofing in the Middle Ages. Heritage conservationists have now documented them and subsequently covered them again to withstand weathering. In the future, according to Bartoš, it would also be appropriate to consider the restoration of the exterior walls of the building, which are partially still made of original sandstone blocks.