"San Pedro Parish Church in Bergara is a 16th century Renaissance building classified as being of Cultural Interest in the Monument category"
Our Wood Engineering team, with the direct involvement of our colleague, Josu Benito, has played a key role in the complex intervention that has secured and dismantled the main altarpiece at San Pedro Parish Church in Bergara
San Pedro Parish Church in Bergara is a 16th century Renaissance building listed as being of Cultural Interest in the Monument category. Our work has been decisive in diagnosing the real state of the load-bearing structure and defining the urgent measures needed to prevent its collapse.
We detected severe deterioration caused by fungi and xylophagous insects
Over the past few months, the altarpiece, an exceptional piece of polychrome wood dating from 1546 to 1548, has been in a critical condition. The technical studies carried out by Zetabi Arkitektura Bulegoa, in conjunction with TECNALIA, confirmed severe deterioration caused by fungi and xylophagous insects, as well as significant weaknesses in its construction system.
- The structural analysis also revealed a hidden substructure which had prevented an imminent collapse thanks to old anchorages.
- Following the installation of scaffolding and the initial assessment, an extremely delicate dismantling operation was carried out, piece by piece, in line with traditional carpentry techniques.
- This operation enabled niches, figures, friezes and cornices to be safely removed and a thorough inventory to be carried out, accompanied by 3D documentation and individual data sheets on each element.
- In parallel, the Artez Restauración team has carried out initial cleaning, tasting and consolidation tests, the results of which are being analysed in conjunction with the technical staff at Gordailua.
We are using a sustainable and effective process against xylophagous insects
The next technical milestone will come in spring, when the thermal conditions in the church will enable a treatment of anoxia, an "oxygen-free bubble" to be applied, which will eliminate xylophagous insects without having to resort to chemical products. This sustainable and highly effective procedure is essential in order to slow down biological activity and ensure the future conservation of the ensemble.
In the meantime, the altarpiece remains dismantled and on display in the church itself, accompanied by a full-scale canvas that reproduces its original image and maintains its social and cultural function. The intervention, financed by Gipuzkoa Provincial Council and the Basque Government, has eliminated the immediate risk of falling and now opens the door to a comprehensive restoration based on heritage criteria.
TECNALIA is committed to historical heritage conservation
TECNALIA confirms its commitment to the conservation of built heritage and to the application of scientific and technological knowledge to serve society.