Petition for the Preservation of the Charles Bridge

I hereby demand the immediate suspension of construction work on the Charles Bridge until the investor and the construction company are prepared to carry out the restoration work in a manner appropriate to the significance of this monument, which is so important for the Czech nation and also for Europe’s heritage.

February 3, The Prague Post, UNESCO looks at bridge works

SHOCK!!

„The subject of this restoration isn´t restoration, but technical repair.“

Pavel Kameník, Spokesman SMP CZ, 14.10.2009

Carles Bridge, 2008 year - YouTube.com

We protest against the outcome of work.

It can be hardly called professional and sensitive towards this unique monument.

It is apparent that construction without proper expertise has been conducted into the construction of Charles Bridge for many years now. The 'professional repairs' were carried out without public´s notice - due to inaccessibility of one of the supporting pillars. (Photo taken from "O.Ševců a kol, Karlův most, Praha 2007")

Dear citizens, this is not a naive litigation among art restorers. We protest against a serious violation of Czech laws. In case of the repair of Charles Bridge - a protected National Cultural Monument - no basic conditions were met and we find it simply scandalous.

Works on a bridge-deck and stone-balustrade started in April 2007. In March 2009, the Controlling Commission was established. Architects, restorers and other experts became its members. Commission claimed that 'it is bewildering how the repair works on Charles Bridge are being conducted. They do not meet the basic standards applied in case of other restored monuments of similar value.'

Commission also warned against 'grave consequences', should fundamental and qualitative changes not be accepted. Therefore it is important for the owner of Charles Bridge (i. e. City of Prague) to cancel all ongoing work and to arrange for corrections. Suspension of work has also been demanded by National Preservation Institute. Unfortunately, restoration has not been stopped yet!

Significant defects in restoration of Charles Bridge were emphasized also in Preservation Inspection Report from last year (see "Documents"). The findings conclude that restoration was not prepared properly. Construction-historical and cultural-historical survey was not executed. Detailed documentation was not provided. Methods used throughout the restoration of balustrade were not carefully considered and approved in advance. The after-effects are devastating; pneumatic drills and stone saws were put into action into this national monument. The dismantling of the balustrade resemble a demolition
work. For example, one of the original medieval building blocks was cut in half and left to deteriorate (see Preservation Inspection Report).

All together about thirty percent of balustrade stone blocks - in our opinion all in a good condition - were marked as unfit for use in construction and were set aside, some destroyed in a hammer mill. No written evidence was ever presented. Some of the original hand-cut stone medieval building blocks were replaced by industrially produced pre-fabricated elements. Shapes, sizes and types of these new materials do not correspond with the quality of the material used in the original construction. In addition, the restoration work has been conducted amateurishly; historical stones are still being carelessly
hacked off, jointing does not meet professional standards at all, mortar droops over the original building blocks, etc.

The findings of the Controlling Commission and Preservation Inspection are alarming! Even more shocking is the fact that the City of Prague and SMP CZ keep denying all accusations. As mentioned above, the monument's constructional sounds is being compromised with the lack of proper advancements, and something ought to be done before the next restoration.

Charles Bridge is formally owned by the City of Prague, but in fact belongs to the whole nation. Therefore we implore citizens: "Help us to stop the wrecking of Charles Bridge - sign our petition for preservation of this unique National Monument!" Association of Guilds for Preservation and Development of Cultural Heritage in the Czech Republic demands immediate suspension of all the work on Charles Bridge!

We demand the reconstruction of this National Monument be executed by a company specialized in preservation and reconstruction of historical buildings with proven record prior experience and successful reconstruction accomplishments. The City of Prague's historical monuments and buildings that were acknowledged under the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites bind us to preserve this national treasure of Charles' Bridge for the next generations to come.

                                                                                                                               In Prague, 1.10.2009