In Osek, the monastery church was repaired for nearly 130 million crowns

Osek - In Osek in the Teplice region, the monastery church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which is part of the Cistercian monastery, has been restored. The costs amounted to nearly 130 million crowns, with a larger portion covered by a European grant from the Integrated Regional Operational Program. The monastery administrator, Jindřich Koska, told ČTK that it is a baroque gem of northern Bohemia.

The renovation began in the autumn of 2018 and was completed last year. "The repairs affected the entire church. The roof has been restored, the covering has been replaced. There is slate, which was there originally. The truss was partially repaired and the necessary work was done to ensure it lasts at least another 800 years," Koska explained the reconstruction. The interior of the church has also been restored. In addition to new electrical installations, experts restored the fresco decorations, paintings, and altars. "Of course, this also includes the repair of the chapels of the Holy Cross and the Holy Sepulchre," Koska added. A unique feature is the decoration of the chapels, which is partly made of mica. Koska stated that it was found by builders in the area at that time. The use of mica was not common at that time.

Perhaps the most complex and demanding repairs awaited the plasterers, who had to reach the frescoes up to the ceiling during the restoration. "Throughout the entire repair, scaffolding was erected here. We took the opportunity to divide the work into stages, and scaffolding was built for each stage, working from the top down. So starting from the vaults and slowly working down, and then the scaffolding was moved again," the administrator described. The stuccos were cleaned, missing parts were replaced, and the rich fresco decoration was also cleaned and retouched. "In the end, the side aisles and side altars were worked on," Koska supplemented.

The church, which was declared a national cultural monument in 1995, was in a state of emergency before the repairs, according to Koska. Individual parts of the decoration were loosening, falling even during services. The paint was chipped, and the church was gloomy and dark. "After the restoration, it returned to its original baroque colors," the administrator stated.

The monument was closed due to the repairs. Since its reopening, services have been held on Sundays, attended by about 25 people. Soon, the church is expected to be included again in the tour circuit offered by the city information center.

The church was built between 1207 and 1221 as a Romanesque three-nave basilica. From 1711 to 1720, a high baroque reconstruction took place. According to the National Heritage Institute, the church is one of the most valuable sacral buildings in northern Bohemia.