The third phase of the external renovation
With the third stage reaches the Exterior renovation of St. Pölten Cathedral its most extensive phase to date. The work includes the restoration of the north and south façades as well as the renovation of the nave roof. The cathedral façades will be scaffolded after Easter. The work is scheduled to be completed before 11 September 2026, when a concert is to take place in the cathedral square. A tower crane will be erected at the corner of the city library for the construction work.
The new roof of the nave
A central part of the work concerns the Roof covering of the nave. The total roof area is around 1100 square metres and comprises around 36,000 roof tiles. Around 300 square metres of this is accounted for by the apse, whose special shape makes it necessary to cut each individual tile to fit precisely. The new roof covering will be designed as a „plain tile double covering“ and will be colour-coordinated with the neighbouring diocese building; a brown-red tone is planned. The existing roof covering is around 100 years old. It has been repeatedly repaired in places over the years, but has reached the end of its service life.
In the course of the carpentry work, the roof truss will be inspected more closely. According to current assessments, it is in good condition. However, the roof battens and formwork will be replaced. Only after the old roof covering has been removed will it become clear whether and to what extent there is additional damage.
Metalwork and windows
Plumbing work is also planned. The existing Sheet copper is largely in good condition and will be repaired and reused where necessary. Sheet iron parts such as rain gutters and downpipes, however, will be replaced with copper sheeting. The sheet iron roof on the north side will be given a new coating. There are also plans to repair the windows, especially the lanterns above the side aisles. However, the south-facing cloister is not part of this construction phase.
Wheelchair-accessible entry to the cathedral
At the same time, a Barrier-free access to the cathedral worked on. This project is currently still in the planning phase. Implementation is scheduled to begin in 2026. Coordination with the Federal Monuments Office and the City of St. Pölten is required for the specific solution. One of the options under discussion involves lowering the ground level of the cathedral square in the area of the south entrance in order to provide barrier-free access to the cathedral.
Following the third stage of the external renovation, further phases of construction will follow – you can find details of all the stages at St Pölten Cathedral Project.
You can also find out more in the ORF contribution
