A remarkable group of sculptures in the area of Novy les near Kuks (Eastern Bohemia) was created in the first half of the 18th century. It consists of sculptures and reliefs carved from stone blocks, ususlly integrated with natural rock outcrops and for this reason they cannot be removed from the site. Due to unfavorable hydrogeological and climatic conditions and poor maintenance, the stone has been affected by both surface and ground water. In 1998 protective shelters were created in the central part of the area as one measure to reduce the water content in the sandstone reliefs. The condition of the reliefs protected by the shelters has been monitored for 2 years, and changes in both conditions of stone and the microclimate under the shelters were recorded. However, in addition to the positive effects such as the reduction of stone wetting by rainfall and contamination by foliage and identification of the effects of rising groundwater, the shelters also have some negative effects. Installing them includes a certain risk of damaging the sculptural works (fortunately, such damage did not occur). The unsuitable system of water drainage from the shelters results in the occurrence of efflorescence of calcareous salts on the stone surfaces, and poor ventilation in some places inside the shelters may impair local drying of the stone. Presently measures are proposed which should eliminate these problems.