The craftsmen continue the restoration of the Olomouc Cathedral

Olomouc - The artistic blacksmith Milan Polian began today the restoration of the peak cross on the St. Wenceslas Cathedral in Olomouc at a height of over 100 meters. The work is part of the third phase of the major repairs to the outer shell of the monument. It is expected to be completed by the end of next year, said Pastor Bohumír Vitásek today to ČTK.
    "We will remove the central roses, which are corroded. In the forge, we will make new ones. Otherwise, we will do everything on-site, replace the missing parts, carry out painting, and finally gilding. How long it takes depends on the weather," said Polian to ČTK today.
    According to him, the cross is four meters high and has a span of two meters. It is of Latin type and dates from the end of the 19th century when a neo-Gothic reconstruction took place on the monument. The restorer reportedly does not suffer from dizziness at that height, but he does have respect for it. "I’m afraid, that's clear. One has to cultivate a certain respect. I do not specifically train for such climbs. If I’m hitting a three-kilogram hammer every day and hiking in the mountains, I’m physically fit," the blacksmith stated.
    The monument, which is one of the city's landmarks, is currently covered by scaffolding. The craftsmen erected it from the end of May until Monday, and they will continue to make adjustments for another two weeks. "There are over 50 kilometers of pipes and over 300 tons of material. Just the fasteners weigh over 31 tons," said Miloslav Pavelka, owner of Pavelka ČR, the company that built the scaffolding, to ČTK today.
    According to Vitásek, the reconstruction of the cathedral began in 1999. The total costs will reach approximately 250 million crowns. The third phase of the major repairs includes the repair of the southern wall of the cathedral, renovation of the stained glass windows, repair of the large tower, and the internal staircase.