The Čertovka restaurant complex

The Čertovka Prague restaurant complex is located in a historical building on the banks of the Čertovka, a branch of the Vltava River separating the Vltava bank from Kampa Island. Originally adapted as a mill race for the Lesser Town mills, this unique waterway has long been tied to the life of the area. The Čertovka restaurant is also well known for its location next to the narrowest street in Prague.

The building that today houses the restaurant and pub was erected before 1620 in the late Renaissance style, with its street façade later redesigned in a classical form. Historically, the vaulted cellar functioned as a forge, while the current salon once housed a carpentry workshop repairing mill transmission wheels. The narrow entrance alley remains significant as the last preserved fire alley in Lesser Town.

Over the centuries, the underground brick basement of the building suffered considerable damage caused by moisture rising from the nearby Vltava River. To stop the rising damp, Freezteq Original was applied: after drilling holes into the mortar lines of the wall, frozen sticks were inserted directly into them, effectively targeting and blocking the major pathways for water ingress. The restoration and repair of the structure was then carried out with Manorteq AquaRend Thix Regular, a durable mortar enhanced with Xypex crystalline technology, while AquaRend Fix-S was used to secure mechanical bonding between the layers. To complete the work, Freezteq BR-Finish was applied, not to provide a breathable finish in this case, but rather to create a “warm” touch finish that is in keeping with the historical structure.  

This combination of advanced Manorteq products ensured the long-term stability and protection of the basements and cellars while carefully respecting and preserving the cultural and architectural heritage of the site.