Restoration 2019-2022

Project registration number CZ.06.3.33/0.0/0.0/16_059/0004598 Rescue of the Church of St. Margaret in Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou, the Baroque Pearl of the Vysočina Region, supported under the 52nd call of the IROP – REVITALIZATION OF SELECTED MONUMENTS II – Specific Objective 3.1 – Making the presentation more effective, strengthening the protection and development of cultural heritage.

Estimated project cost: 112,891,991 CZK
Actual project cost: 106,850,000 CZK
Estimated EU and CR contribution: up to 94,916,056 CZK

The project was supported by the Vysočina Region, the town of Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou, and the ČEZ Foundation.

The subject of the project is the rescue and restoration of the Church of St. Margaret in Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou, the Baroque pearl of the Vysočina Region, which is an integral part of the town’s skyline.

The Church of St. Margaret connects to the neighboring chateau building, with which it is physically linked, forming a unified urban and architectural ensemble. Due to its cultural and historical value, the Church of St. Margaret in Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou is protected as part of the National Cultural Monument “Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou Chateau”, ÚSKP registry number 26383/7-2665.

The goal of the project is the overall restoration of the original state of the unique Early Baroque building of the Church of St. Margaret, both from a structural-technical and architectural point of view. A singular feature of this Baroque church building in the Vysočina region is the entire roof truss structure of the dome with wooden principal rafters. It is characterized by authentic Early Baroque craftsmanship, which is exceptionally rare and unique. An integral part of this structure is the painted decoration of the monumental dome of the Church of St. Margaret by Karel František Antonín Tepper, commissioned by the owner of the Jaroměřice chateau and patron of the arts, Johann Adam von Questenberg, in 1737.

The project addresses the current emergency structural and technical condition in which the monument is found. There is a risk of irreversible loss of the extraordinary interior ceiling fresco supported by the unique wooden structure of the dome, which shows significant signs of destructive defects and damage. If this building could not be repaired and rescued, there was a risk of delay resulting in the acceleration of destructive processes caused by the movement of the wooden principal rafters and the entire unique wooden dome, which would lead to the destruction of the fresco. This process would mean a loss of authenticity and unique originality. The implementation of the project addresses the restoration of the monument’s values, both the exterior and interior of the church.

Within the structural part of the project, the structural stability of the church will be addressed, along with the repair of historically valuable building structures (extensive damage to the dome trusses, damage to the roofing over the oratories and side corridors, and the tower trusses); the exterior envelope of the church will be restored, and technically degraded, or materially and shapewise unsuitable modern surface finishes of the building structures will be repaired. The construction solution also includes a complete overhaul of the electrical installations, a comprehensive reconstruction of the heating and tempering system, the reconstruction of ventilation systems along with new installations of ventilation ducts, and the reconstruction of health and technical installations (ZTI).

Crucial restoration work in the monument’s interior involves the restoration of the most valuable part of the monument, namely the endangered ceiling fresco in the church dome. This involves the restoration of a unique, historically highly valuable ceiling fresco covering an area of approximately 450 m2. The restoration work in the interior will also include the treatment of wall surfaces, including repairs and new plaster additions in the nave and the presbytery. Restoration work on the exterior includes the restoration of stone architectural elements of the church (stone entrance jambs and tower volutes).

The implementation of the project will lead to increased protection and security of the monument thanks to the acquisition and installation of a new intruder alarm and emergency system, new fire detection, and new emergency lighting. The installation of a turnstile at the entry to the south viewing tower will also contribute to securing the monument.

During the design of the church restoration, maximum emphasis was placed on the removal of all existing barriers and allowing access for disabled persons (ZTP) to all areas of the ground floor intended for the public. For this reason, the replacement of all ground floor flooring structures and their arrangement into a single height level is proposed. The newly opened garden terrace will also have barrier-free access from the existing spaces of the church. Within the construction and structural modifications, a new toilet designed for the needs of disabled persons is also proposed.

The proposed restoration of the church counts on the modification of the church interior and a new use and opening of certain spaces to the public. The church itself with the presbytery will continue to serve liturgical purposes. A new sacristy will be established in the north oratory on the ground floor, supplemented by the necessary sanitary facilities. The original sacristy in the axis of the presbytery will be restored to its original form and will be part of the extended tour route. A permanent exhibition will be created in the north gallery on the 1st floor, the north corridor, and the oratory on the 2nd floor. The south gallery on the 1st floor and the adjacent newly opened and landscaped garden terrace will be used for exhibition and multifunctional activities. The south tower of the church will be newly opened to the public as a viewing tower, offering an extraordinary view of the entire Baroque chateau garden. The newly accessible spaces will expand the existing tour route of the church.