It will take several years to gather and evaluate the survey findings. Based on the information, the Archbishopric of Olomouc will gradually determine the overall restoration concept in cooperation with various specialists.
Work Plan
Preservation/Restoration Concept
Work Plan
Difficult restoration due to the combination of many different materials
Developing an overall restoration concept will be very challenging, mainly due to the variety of materials used for decoration. These include tuffs, stuccos, various types of rocks and minerals, glass and metallurgical slag, shells, metals both inside the stucco and in the leaves of trees, and oak bark, which covers the stucco of the trees. Consequently, extensive material and technological research will first have to be conducted with various domestic and foreign experts.
Work Plan
Planned Sub-Projects
Based on the surveys conducted so far, the Archbishopric of Olomouc is establishing priorities and identifying potential delays. In addition to the preparatory work described in the section State of Disrepair, the Archbishopric of Olomouc is now preparing to conserve the surface metals in the Mining Grotto.
The Archbishopric of Olomouc has applied for a grant from the Ministry of Culture’s Programme for the Conservation of Architectural Heritage for 2026 for the prepared project to conserve surface metals in the Mining Grotto.
A technical solution for scaffolding in the Apollo’s Grotto is also being prepared to enable safe and comfortable restoration surveys among the treetops.
Use of Data from 3D Scanning
The data will be modified for the purpose of 3D printing grotto models.
After a year of research and consultations, the project preparations for the revitalization of the Assistant Gardener’s House in the Chateau Garden of the Archbishop’s Castle in Kroměříž are currently coming to a head. Following the construction and restoration, the Assistant Gardener’s House will serve as a tourist information center, with an exhibition area focusing on the history of the Archbishop’s Gardens. There will also be a memorial room dedicated to the archbishop’s foresters and the Archbishop’s Forests and Estates in Olomouc (ALSOL). Since the grottos will only be accessible on a limited basis in the upcoming years, the Archbishopric of Olomouc has decided to create a grotto exhibition as well. Along with current information and visualizations, there will be interactive models of the grottos created using 3D printing technology. The models will have built-in lighting and water elements to demonstrate how the grottos may have looked when initially constructed.
For this purpose, the Archbishopric of Olomouc will use 3D scanning data, adapted for 3D printing. The Archbishopric of Olomouc is collaborating with the Department of Geoinformatics at Palacký University Olomouc to create the models, which should be ready in the first quarter of 2026. This project is supported by the IROP Operational Programme – Tourism.
