The exhibition entitled “Calcarius or limestone, lime technology in traditional construction” is installed in the mill and the shalanda of the former monastery mill newly adapted for short-term exhibitions. Visitors can learn in an attractive way about the now often forgotten methods of limestone extraction, its firing in pre-industrial lime kilns and the subsequent processing of lime and its use in traditional construction.

The so-called lime cycle is explained in detail, including the transformation of limestone stone into lump lime, its quenching in fire extinguishers and the subsequent preparation of mortars and their use in construction as a binding agent. Sets of traditional tools of stonemasons, lime-knappers and masons are on display alongside original archaeological finds of mortars and plasters from the first Christian buildings in the country; replicas of typical plasters used in the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque periods are also on display.

A short video presentation presents the operation of an experimental lime kiln, and in the study corner it is possible to check on digital maps where the lime kiln or quarry is located in the area of interest. the “Limestone House”, the comic strip “The Story of the Shell” about the formation of limestone, interactive models as well as arranged craft installations provide information even for quite young visitors, for whom a playful exhibition guide is also available.

The exhibition was created within the framework of the programme for the support of research on national and cultural identity (NAKI) in cooperation with the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the CAS and the Institute of Archaeology of the CAS (project identification code: DF11P010VV010).

Further information about the Calcarius project is available at www.calcarius.cz

A report by CRo Leonardo on the exhibition “Calcarius or Calcite” can be heard here.

The Plasy Building Heritage Centre is a successfully completed project of the National Technical Museum co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Integrated Operational Programme (IOP), area 5.1 – National support for the exploitation of the potential of cultural heritage.