Zlín Zoo wants to complete the reconstruction of the castle roof this summer

Zlín - The Zlín Zoo wants to complete the reconstruction of the roof of the heritage-protected Lešná Castle within its premises this summer. It could be finished in August. The repair started in 2019 and will cost about 40 million crowns, said the zoo's director, Roman Horský, to ČTK.

The work has been divided into phases over three years. Bats regularly inhabit the castle's attic during the summer and raise their young there. Therefore, work on the roof can only take place from September to April, when the bats hibernate in other locations.

Chimneys have already been repaired on the castle roof, and the craftsmen have laid new roofing material on the southern and main towers, as well as on nearly half of the roof. "This has fully highlighted the beauty of the original ornamental decoration, which was damaged during an insensitive roof repair in the 1960s. The new roof tiles in green, yellow, and brick red were brought by the zoo from a German supplier, and the ridge tiles were made to order in Poštorná," the director noted.

The restoration work involved roofing elements, gutter systems, hooks for gutters, caps on the roof peaks, and water spouts, as well as wooden dormers, window sashes, stained glass, and decorative gables. "The skylight covering the stained glass skylight above the staircase in the castle's entrance hall was also completely repaired," the director stated. Last September, time capsules with messages for future generations were placed in the main tower.

The city of Zlín, as the zoo's founding body, added another 15 million crowns last year to the 17 million contribution for the roof repair made in 2018, and promised a grant of five million crowns for this year. The region contributed over four million crowns.

Lešná Castle is one of the youngest noble residences in Moravia. Its construction was completed in 1893. According to Horský, the castle will require further interventions, such as the restoration of textile wallpapers in the interior, shutters, and window frames, or sewage in the basement.