The bridge near Uzhgorod castle did not survive the winter (PHOTOS)

On Sunday, March 12, an emergency occured at the entrance to the Transcarpathian Regional Local History Museum. 

Part of the 200-year-old bridge collapsed. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

A correspondent of the 0312.ua visited the scene and spoke with Vasyl Sheba, the director of the Transcarpathian Regional Local History Museum. 

"Did not survive the winter"

We found out the cause of the collapse, the cost of restoration and other "risk zones" in the castle.

"It happened because of the old age of the bridge. It is more than 200 years old – Mr. Sheba says – It was built "on clay," there is absolutely no cement. The rains gradually washed out the clay and the stones just collapsed."

Repairs will cost about 100,000 UAH:

"It happened on Sunday at six o’clock. As you can see, we have already started repairs. I think in about two weeks we will restore the bridge. The repairs will cost 100,000 UAH. Regional authorities do not give anything, we do everything for our own money."

We’ll have to spend millions to fix up the castle:

"In general, there are many problem areas in the castle. First, the roof in the northwestern part of the castle. This needs to be done urgently, but it requires a lot of money. Also, we need to do heating in the main building of the castle, but it will take 10-12 million hryvnia."

In 2016, the castle made 2.8 million

According to the director of the museum, the castle survives thanks to their own revenues:

"Over 25 years of independent Ukraine, the government has given UAH 3.2 million in 2008 for the repair of the tower. And that’s all. Basically, we survive thanks to our own revenues. Last year, the castle made UAH 2.8 million."

For now, the museum is working in normal mode. The damaged area is fenced, so there is no risk to visitors.

As the museum administration told the Uzhgorod.in, restoration work is planned to start on Wednesday. Currently, they are drawing up documentation, since the special status of the building requires more than scrupulous attention to all repairs and any other works. By the way, the bridge itself was built in the middle of the XIX century and finally gave up to the vagaries of the weather.