For almost 20 years students and teachers from the University of Applied Sciences in Cologne, Germany travel to Lopud each year in september.

It all started in 1987 with an inventarisation project in the little museum of the island. Artifacts were cataloqued, described and conservation treatment was proposed as well as carried out. 

In 1997 the State Conservation Office and the Institute for Conservation in Dubrovnik supported a much larger and demanding project: The main altar of Saint Nicolas church in the heart of the village.

Both altar and church were in such bad condition that service was no longer held in this church. The roof was leaking rain and water and it was in fact used as a boat shelter for the local fishermen.

From 1997 to 2001 regular visits to the island finally could complete this demanding conservation task. It was accompanied by renovation work for the walls and the roof was fixed.

A success story! The church was brought back into service and actually functions as the main church for sunday service again.

Ornamental degtail during carving and reconstruction

Students from cologne reassamble the upper levels of the main altar on a wooden grid

The altar during- and after treatment(see below)