Stone Arch Building Course
A stone arch is one of the most distinctive features you can add to a garden wall, gateway, passage, window opening, cellar or other stone structure. It also looks deceptively complicated. In this one-day hands-on course, you will learn how a stone arch actually works, how loads are transferred through the curve and what determines whether the finished structure is stable, well-proportioned and visually convincing.
- 🪨 Understand the structural principle behind a traditional stone arch
- 🌿 See how arches can be used in gateways, passages, windows, portals, cellars and garden structures
- 🧠 Learn what determines stability, proportion and the overall appearance of the arch
- ⚒️ Follow and practise the stone arch building process step by step
- ✨ Develop a better feel for stone selection, placement and the geometry of the complete structure
- 🧾 Receive a certificate and, more importantly, practical experience you can apply to your own project
The course takes place in Novosedly, South Moravia, Czech Republic. International course dates include professional English interpretation throughout the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the booking work?
Choose the course date that suits you, enter the participant’s name and add the course to your cart.
At checkout, enter your details and confirm your order. You will receive an immediate confirmation by email.
Once payment has been received, your place on the course is fully reserved.
Approximately one week before the course, we will send you the practical information and schedule.
On the day of the course, the facilities, materials and instructor will all be ready for you.
Where does the course take place?
Novosedly, South Moravia, Czech Republic
48°49’51.7″N 16°30’07.1″E
The course takes place in Novosedly near Mikulov, in the South Moravian wine region of the Czech Republic.
Parking is available along the property or directly on site.
If you are travelling from abroad, accommodation is available in Novosedly and the surrounding area. We can recommend suitable options according to your travel plans.
By prior arrangement, we may also be able to organise transport from Vienna International Airport or Brno Airport. If you need help with accommodation or your journey to the course, please contact us before travelling.
What if it rains?
The course takes place outdoors, but you do not need to worry about the weather disrupting the day.
- We have a large covered tent that provides a comfortable base and protects participants from both sun and rain.
- Thanks to this covered area, the course can take place in changing weather conditions without affecting the planned programme.
- Your place and the course schedule remain confirmed even if the weather is not perfect.
What if I can’t attend after all?
We understand that plans can change. For this reason, our cancellation policy is clearly defined in advance:
- If you cancel more than 30 calendar days before the course date, we will refund 50% of the course fee.
- If you cancel 30 to 15 calendar days before the course begins, we will refund 25% of the course fee.
- If you cancel 14 calendar days or less before the course begins, the course fee is non-refundable.
What about food and drinks?
During the course, you will be well looked after throughout the day. Drinking water, chilled Coca-Cola, coffee and light refreshments are available at all times.
At lunchtime, we take a break for a hot meal – usually a traditional schnitzel with bread – and there is always something else available to eat as well.
Toilets, a covered rest area and a place to relax in the shade are also available on site.
Is the course suitable for beginners and women?
Yes. The course is suitable for complete beginners and is also suitable for women. Everything is explained step by step through practical work, you work under the guidance of the instructor, and the pace is adapted to the group.
It is worth keeping in mind that this is still manual outdoor work with natural stone, so a basic level of physical fitness is helpful.
Instructor Luděk Komoň will show you proven techniques and share practical experience from real stonework projects.
You will receive individual guidance and plenty of time to discuss your own projects.
Tools, equipment, refreshments, water, coffee and on-site facilities are all provided – you do not need to arrange anything yourself.
You will receive a certificate and gain a practical skill that is difficult to learn elsewhere, with strong practical and financial value.
Learn How to Build a Stone Arch and Understand What Makes the Structure Work
A stone arch is one of the most distinctive features of traditional stone construction. It can give a garden wall, gateway, passage, window opening, portal, cellar or other stone structure a timeless and distinctive character.
At the same time, it is a construction that many people hesitate to attempt because the principle can appear complicated at first.
On this practical Stone Arch Building Course in Novosedly, you will learn how an arch works, how loads are transferred through the curve and what determines the stability of the complete structure.
You will follow the process from preparing and working with the arch centering to selecting and positioning the stones and completing the arch around the keystone area.
A stone arch is not simply a decorative curve made from stone. It is a structural principle in which geometry, compression, support, stone placement and the relationship between all parts of the arch need to work together.
- Understand the structural principle of a stone arch and why the completed construction can support itself.
- Learn how arch centering is used to establish the geometry and support the stones during construction.
- Practise positioning stones within an arch directly during hands-on work.
- Learn what influences stability, proportion and the craftsmanship of the finished arch.
- Recognise common mistakes that affect the geometry or structural logic of the construction.
- Receive a course certificate and practical experience you can apply when thinking about your own project.
Who Is This Course For?
This course is for anyone who wants to understand stone arch construction through practical work.
It is suitable for people interested in traditional building, natural stone, gateways, portals, cellars, wall openings and garden structures with distinctive handcrafted details.
The course can be useful for tradespeople, stonemasons, builders, landscapers, smaller construction companies, designers, landscape architects and enthusiasts of traditional natural materials.
If you want to build an arch yourself, incorporate one into future work or simply understand how this type of construction functions, the course provides a practical introduction to the principle.
The course is also suitable for complete beginners. Previous experience with stone arches is not required. The important part is seeing the construction process, understanding its logic and working directly with stone around the centering.
International course dates include professional English interpretation throughout the practical training.
What You Will Learn
We begin with the most important question: why does a stone arch remain standing?
You will learn how compression works through the curve, why the geometry of the arch matters, how forces are transferred towards the supports and why stones cannot simply be arranged randomly into an attractive semicircle.
We then move directly into construction.
You will see how the arch centering establishes the required shape and temporarily supports the stones during the building process.
We will work with stone selection, positioning individual pieces within the arch, maintaining the direction of the construction and understanding how each stone relates to those around it.
An important part of the course is also learning to recognise mistakes.
You will see what happens when proportions begin to drift, when a stone is poorly positioned or when the overall geometry no longer supports the intended load path.
Building a Stone Arch Step by Step
The aim of the course is not simply to show you a finished arch.
The goal is to understand the complete sequence from establishing the geometry to placing the final stones. The relationship between these individual stages determines whether the arch feels stable, natural and well constructed.
Arch Centering and Geometry
You will learn why temporary centering is essential during construction, how it establishes the shape of the arch and why the proportions of the curve influence both the structural behaviour and appearance of the finished work.
Stone Selection and Placement
You will learn to select stones according to their shape, function and position within the arch.
Each stone needs to contribute to the complete construction rather than simply filling an empty space.
Keystone Area and Closing the Arch
You will understand the principle of closing the arch around the keystone area.
This stage shows whether the geometry and stone placement have been controlled correctly from the beginning.
Before Building an Arch, Understand Why It Works
Many people first notice a stone arch because it is visually striking.
But appearance alone does not make an arch work.
The construction depends on geometry, adequate support, compression, stone selection, accurate placement and the proportions of the complete structure.
During the course, you will see why simply creating “an arch shape” is not enough.
You will learn to think about how individual stones behave within the structure, why the sides of the arch need appropriate support and why an early mistake in geometry becomes increasingly difficult to correct as construction progresses.
A stone arch is not decoration attached to a wall. It is a structure that needs to make sense through its geometry, compression, support and stone placement.
Stone Arch Building Is about Proportion, Compression and Detail
A good stone arch does not look convincing simply because it is made from natural stone.
It works visually because the proportions, stone arrangement and curve relate naturally to one another – and technically because the stones form a coherent compression structure.
During the course, you will begin to look at an arch through the eyes of a craftsperson.
Which stone works near the springing point?
Which shape is more suitable higher in the arch?
When should a stone be turned?
When does it need minor shaping?
When has the geometry started to drift?
Why do some stone arches appear balanced and natural while others feel heavy or awkward?
This is the difference between arranging stones into an arch shape and genuinely understanding the principle of stone arch construction.
Where Can Stone Arches Be Used?
Stone arches are not limited to historic architecture.
The same structural principle can be used in wall passages, gateways, portals, window openings, cellars, garden structures, freestanding stone arches and other distinctive architectural details.
The course will help you understand where an arch can make sense and how it can add craftsmanship and character to a stone structure.
It will also help you recognise situations where a project becomes structurally more demanding.
Larger, load-bearing or more complex arches need to be designed individually and may require assessment by a structural engineer or other appropriately qualified professional.
How the Course Works
The course takes place outdoors in Novosedly, South Moravia, Czech Republic.
We normally begin at approximately 9:00 and finish around 15:00.
Theory is limited to what is needed to understand the practical work. Most of the day is spent directly with stone, the centering and the real construction process.
- We explain the basic principle of a stone arch, including compression, geometry, support and stability.
- We look at the arch centering and explain how it establishes and temporarily supports the required shape.
- We discuss how to select suitable stones according to shape, function and position within the arch.
- You practise placing stones along the curved structure and understand how neighbouring pieces need to work together.
- We explain the principle of closing the arch around the keystone area.
- Finally, we discuss common mistakes, practical applications and participants’ own projects.
There is time for questions throughout the day.
You can discuss your own gateway, wall opening, portal, cellar, garden arch or other stone structure, including stone selection, proportions, dimensions and the practical feasibility of the idea.
For international course dates, a professional English interpreter is available throughout the practical training.
What You Will Practise
- working with wooden arch centering and understanding how it defines the geometry,
- selecting suitable stone according to shape, strength and position within the construction,
- building up the side sections and preparing the arch supports,
- placing stones so that the compression path through the arch makes sense,
- recognising construction mistakes and understanding how they affect the result,
- understanding the function of the keystone area when closing the arch,
- working with details that are difficult to understand fully from a video or written guide alone.
What Is Included in the Course?
- hands-on training in stone arch construction,
- stone and materials for practical work during the course,
- arch centering and equipment required for the training,
- tools and working equipment available on site,
- course facilities, seating, toilet and refreshments,
- time for individual questions and discussion of your own project,
- course completion certificate,
- professional English interpretation on international course dates.
You only need suitable work clothing and sturdy footwear.
You do not need to buy specialist tools before attending. Stone, tools, centering, facilities and refreshments are prepared on site.
Why Attend before Building Your Own Stone Arch?
The most expensive mistake in a stone arch is not the stone. It is misunderstanding the structural principle.
If you do not understand how compression moves through the arch, how the curve needs to be established and how the structure is supported, the finished project can become expensive, complicated and uncertain.
A practical day allows you to see the principle directly rather than trying to reconstruct it from photographs or online diagrams.
Before starting your own portal, gateway, cellar opening or garden arch, you can first experience how the structure develops around real centering and real natural stone.
Bring Your Own Project with You
If you are already planning a specific stone arch, gateway, passage, portal, cellar, window opening, garden structure or other arched detail, bring photographs, dimensions, a sketch or a simple plan.
During the course, we can discuss the principles relevant to your project, including geometry, proportions, stone type, dimensions and practical feasibility.
Tradespeople and smaller construction companies can also discuss practical topics such as stone selection, preparation of the arch centering, work organisation, pricing and offering stone arch construction to clients.
The discussion is intended to help you understand your project better. More demanding structural designs still need project-specific professional assessment.
Travelling from Abroad
The course takes place in Novosedly in South Moravia, Czech Republic, in the wine-growing region near Mikulov and close to the Austrian border.
Accommodation is available in Novosedly and the surrounding area, with further options around Mikulov.
For international participants, the region is accessible from both Vienna and Brno.
If you are travelling from another country, we recommend arranging accommodation and travel in advance.
What Happens after Booking?
Once your order has been completed and paid, your place on the selected course date is reserved.
Approximately one week before the course, we send practical organisational information including the exact location, recommended clothing, the day’s schedule and arrival instructions.
The course takes place outdoors and is primarily practical.
Stone, tools, arch centering and the facilities required for the day are prepared on site.
A Practical Course for Anyone Who Wants to Understand How a Stone Arch Really Works
This is not a general lecture about historic architecture.
It is a practical course where you work directly with natural stone, see the arch centering in use, understand compression through the curve and experience the process behind one of the most distinctive elements of traditional stone construction.
If you want to understand how a stone arch is built, why its geometry matters, how the stones work together and how to approach a similar feature in your own project, this course gives you a practical foundation to build on.
