As any superstitious Czech can tell you, meeting a chimney sweep on the street brings good luck — especially if you manage to quickly grab hold of one of your own jacket buttons. These days, chimney sweep sightings are increasingly rare in Prague, which is terrible luck not only for its residents, but for the city itself.

According to preservationists, traditional craftsmen — chimney sweeps, tinsmiths, bricklayers, stonecutters, shinglers and roofers — are vital for the proper upkeep of the city's cherished historical monuments.

A UNESCO report released last month warns that Prague's dearth of skilled tradesmen could hinder the maintenance and restoration of its landmarks.

"With most monuments, it's absolutely necessary that they're restored using the classical methods," says Michael Zachař, director of the Prague branch of the National Heritage Office. "And it's tough because no one wants to do these jobs any more. It's next to impossible to find a decent shingler."

Zachař says he isn't worried that the shortage of craftsmen could threaten Prague's UNESCO status — at least not yet. "But what happens when no one's left who can do these jobs?" he asks. "At some point there will be no turning back."

The shortage is becoming so severe that the Commercial Chamber (HK) has decided to step in and try to create incentives for young people to apprentice in these trades.

Starting next year, in conjunction with the Labor and Social Affairs Ministry, the HK plans to open four centers across the country with the aim of promoting traditional trades.

"We'd really like to revive the tradition of high-quality skilled craftsmen of the First Republic," HK spokeswoman Viktorie Plívová says. The centers, she says, will have access to databases of unemployed people looking for work. Special training courses will be available for craftsmen to increase their qualifications.

Not trendy

Meanwhile, craftsmen trained in the traditional trades worry not just about the landmarks, they're helping preserve but about the future of their professions.

"It's just not trendy to be a chimney sweep these days," says Emil Morávak, president of the Czech Chimney Sweep Guild.

Plívová agrees. "Everyone wants to work with computers or be a manager. It's really hard to interest people in the old trades."

"To lots of people, it just seems like dirty work," Morávek adds.

But that's a misconception, he says.

"Chimney sweeping isn't what it once was," he says. "It's much more high-tech now. A big part of our work now is the upkeep of gas meters, safety checks and so on. It's not so much about crawling through chimneys any more."

The chimneys on historical buildings, however, still need to be cleaned the old way, using a steel brush with wire bristles.

Morávek's association helps organize requalification courses to help chimney sweeps stay in their profession.

Recruiting young chimney sweeps, however, is a whole different challenge. "I don't think we'll die out per se, but there'll be fewer and fewer of us," Morávek says. He's doubtful that many young people can be enticed into these traditions.

But the lack of skilled craftsmen has at least one positive facet, according to Martin Dvořák, co-founder of the Prague-based Roofers and Tinsmiths Association: There's no shortage of work.

"I can't complain," he says. "We're very busy and a lot of the work involves landmarks, which makes it pretty interesting. Not too long ago, we worked on the roof of Prague Castle. Great views from there."

Still, like Morávek, Dvořák worries that the ranks of tinsmiths and roofers will continue shrinking.