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Rescue operation for Regensburg's Schottenportal: million dollar project started!
Regensburg's Schottenportal, an important Romanesque work of art, is to be restored to stop decay and damage.
Rescue operation for Regensburg's Schottenportal: million dollar project started!
The Schottenportal in Regensburg, a Romanesque masterpiece and a landmark of the city, is in danger of falling apart! The alarming condition of the portal has been known for over 45 years, and now something should finally be done. On the western edge of the old town, representatives of the diocese of Regensburg, friends of the old town and members of Rotary clubs gathered to hand over a check for 10,000 euros. This sum is just the first step in the much-needed restoration of the portal, which was built by Irish Benedictines around 1160 and is considered one of the major works of the Romanesque period in Germany.
Diocesan curator Maria Baumann warned that the cost of the restoration would cost “a lot of money,” but did not give exact figures. The progressive deterioration is due to many factors, including the acid rain of the 80s and 90s, which corrodes the high-quality limestone. This is converted into gypsum by the sulfur entry, which leads to a dramatic disintegration of the portal. Despite a glass porch built in 1999 that was intended as a protective measure, it has not achieved the desired result and is even contributing to the deterioration, experts have found.
Step in the right direction
The Old Town Friends have worked hard to finance the preliminary investigations in order to advance the restoration. Professor Achim Hubel, an expert in monument protection, explained the history and problems of the Schottenportal in an impressive presentation. The hope now lies in new, gentler technologies that will be used in the restoration of the portal. Using methods such as ion exchangers and laser technology, it could be possible to turn the plaster back into limestone and possibly even uncover the once colorful remains of the portal.
Time is running out and the city of Regensburg is faced with the challenge of saving this important cultural heritage before it is too late. The first steps have been taken, but the journey towards the complete restoration of the Schottenportal has only just begun!