The Brick Bridge

For the sake of comparison: the bridges across the river Dyje on this estate and the neighbouring Liechtenstein land alike used to be wooden as late as the 19th century – only exceptionally from combined materials, such as the late Baroque bridge in Bulhary. The builder had not only in mind the visual impact of the bridge on the visitor, but also, through incorporating the section with the lifting deck as an element of defensive architecture, he sought to create an impression of a fortress-like character of the place, which corresponded, too, with the terraced walls around the summer residence. It is a consummate engineering work which leaves us with the question about who was its originator - perhaps one of the northern Italian fortress master builders, who at that time worked for influential, politically active aristocrats in Bohemia and Moravia.

The Mikulov estate had a sufficient use of quarries supplying stone for constructional elements of the bridge as well as its pavement and penning of the deck. The 17th century land registers record 13 of them. They were situated in various localities of the estate, with limestone predominantly being quarried around Mikulov and the Portz Island. Bricks, too, were of local origin, as shown by their marking with the letter N (Nicolsburg). In the first half of the 17th century there was only one brickworks in Mikulov, however with its three kilns surprisingly large for its time. Given the same technology used, it was also possible to burn lime at the brickworks, used in turn to make mortar for the bridge construction. In the mid-17th century, perhaps owing to the consequences of the Thirty Years’ War, only two brick kilns were left in operation: one for 24 000 and the other for 19 000 bricks per one kiln-firing. Other brickyards were in the nearby villages within the estate, such as Dolní Věstonice, Sedlec u Mikulova, Bulhary and Pavlov.

Thanks to the inimitable quality of the bricks made by Mikulov’s skilful brickmakers of the 17th century, the construction has been preserved to this day. As the whole area had been tightly enclosed over the period of 40 years under the totalitarian regime, the bridge was in a state of disrepair when the restoration carried out from 2019 to 2020 saved it for the future.

The whole reconstruction was rather demanding. When the work began, the bridge was for the most part covered in earth and almost completely overgrown by greenery. The first thing to do was to uncover the bridge. This involved removing of earth around the bridge, cutting of wind-dispersed trees and shrubs and clearing of deposits from the carriageway of the bridge. Only then the actual extent of damage of the bridge could be established.

When the work began, the bridge was for the most part covered in earth and almost completely overgrown by greenery. The first thing to do was to uncover the bridge. This involved removing of earth around the bridge, cutting of wind-dispersed trees and shrubs and clearing of deposits from the carriageway of the bridge. Only then the actual extent of damage of the bridge could be established. The process of repairing of the bridge can be divided into two parts. One focuses on the repair of the existing lower part below the bridge ledge and the other on replacement of its missing brick railing. Within the reconstruction of the lower part of the bridge we endeavoured to use the greatest possible amount of the original bricks that had been found during extraction of the earth around the bridge. The bricks were made in the first half of the 17th century and are very good quality. Most of them are marked with the letter N (for Nikolsburg). The missing brick railing of the bridge was then built of the bricks originating from the mid-19th century. The brick railing was built up to its original height and it was extended by a simple forged section to reach the height of 110 cm. The steel railing of a simple design manifests its contemporary character, so it is obvious also to a lay visitor that the railing is not part of the original bridge. This solution complies with the present legal requirements for safe operation of the construction as well as those of the conservationists.

The whole reconstruction was a demanding project. There were a lot of surprises in store for us during the works. For example, after clearing the bridge deck of the layer of earth, in some places of up to half a metre thick, the original limestone cubes from the time of the bridge construction (the 1st half of the 17th century) were found. The paving was repaired and for the sake of its protection is now hidden underneath a threshing floor. There were many cracks detected in the arches and bottom sections of the bridge, which had to be structurally secured. Also the stone columns of the bridge had been rather extensively damaged and the missing stones had to be newly hewed and added where needed.

The project aim was also to make the bridge accessible. In the past, the bridge was connected to a road network which, however, fell into disrepair after the Second World War. The roads have been resurfaced within the project and now lead as far as the village of Drasenhofen. We have also developed an educational trail in the area for visitors to get their bearings and learn some interesting facts about the site. The trail includes 7 stops (6 infopanels and 1 resting point).

After the completion of excavations and earth removing around the bridge, the groundwater started rising during the construction works. By the end of the winter break, the levels of Rybniční brook and the stretch of water around the bridge became equal. Therefore it was necessary to alter the part of the project which tackled the return of the stream to its bed from its temporary diversion. Finally, it is planned for a small lake to be created around the repaired bridge, so it could again be reflected on the water surface.

The intention of the project was not only to repair the bridge, but also to make it accessible. In the past, the bridge was connected to the road network, which, however, completely disappeared after World War II, so the bridge was completely inaccessible. As part of the Portz Insel project, these roads were therefore re-established. These now lead to Drasenhofen, Austria. As part of the project, an educational trail was also built for easier orientation of visitors in this locality.

Before the commencement of works there was an examination with a metal detector undertaken by the Archeo Moravia association. Among other items there were 3 coins found - two pieces of 2 Heller from the era of Austria-Hungary (1894 and 1911), and one fragment, apparently damaged by a through-shot, probably a 10-heller from the CSSR (1953-1976). Further a group of bullet casings from different periods was uncovered, most of them from the period of World War II. Several horseshoes were found in the metal waste. The character of the finds testifies to the modern-day treatment of the surface layer of the bridge.