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Roundup: Czech attraction St. Vitus Cathedral may not introduce security gates

Xinhua, November 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Prague Castle, where the Czech President Office located, may not to introduce security gates at the entrance to its famous attraction St. Vitus Cathedral.

It will depend on the security situation and on how to improve technically security checks from the entrance to the castle, said the Presidential Office head Vratislav Mynar on Friday.

Mynar said the news was welcomed by the cathedral, because the installation of security gates would bring charges for all visitors who would like to enter it.

The installation of security gates at the entrance of Prague Castle was considered for safety reasons.

The entrance control has been introduced to the entire castle complex in the summer, and the areas under control would be gradually equipped with modern technology including security gates and monitoring system.

The Prague Castle received 100 million crowns (about 4 million U.S. dollars) from the Czech Defence Ministry for this reason.

At the beginning of November, Mynar already said that the control of "outer perimeter" might be sufficient.

The security experts of the Castle have held a meeting regarding this issue, representatives of the Castle Guard, military unit who is in responsible for protection of the President also attended the meeting.

Mynar said most experts tend to the fact that if they make security controls in a wider perimeter, the installation of security gates to St. Vitus Cathedral might not be necessary.

He said the change was welcomed by the church because the security gates would mean "intervention program" to the cathedral. That means they would have to charge for all visitors to the cathedral and it will need further measures in consequence.

Though the final decision had not yet been made, Mynar is "90 percent" inclined to the fact that the security gates to the Cathedral would not be installed.

He noted that it will also depend on developments in the security situation in Europe and in the Czech Republic. If the security situation deteriorated, the security gates at the entrance to the cathedral could quickly emerge.

The introduction of security checks to Prague Castle in August provoked strong criticism. Especially at the beginning, people have to wait tens of minutes in queues. Prague Castle explained the measures as in responding to security threats and to ensure the safety of visitors.

St. Vitus Cathedral is the most important and the largest church in Prague. It is situated at the Prague Castle and it is a burial place of former Czech Kings. The Czech Crown Jewels and a large treasure are kept there.

St. Vitus Cathedral has two parts: the Gothic eastern tract with the main tower, built in the 14th and 15th century, and the western neo-Gothic part with two spires, built in the 19th century and at the turn of the 20th century. (1 U.S. dollar = 25 crowns) Endit