Prague Clock Tower - Sept 2023

One of the most widely recognizable landmarks in the capital of the Czech Republic is the Old Town hall tower situated on the Old Town Square.

The tower was originally constructed in 1338 as a single structure. Later, in 1364, it was destroyed together with a neighboring private residence.

It wasn’t long until this home and the ones across the street were joined into a single structure, and the whole complex was dubbed the “Old Town Hall.”

In 1410, an astronomical clock was installed at the tower’s entrance. The tower’s machinery was housed in a specialized stone chamber located at the tower’s southern end. The astronomical clock has many moving parts, including a calendar, an astronomy desk, and the “twelve apostles” system. In 1865, Josef Manes put the zodiac’s twelve constellations on the clock’s face.

The Gothic-style front of the Old Town Hall was remodeled in 1470, and additional integration work was done inside the building the same year.

We went on a wonderful tour of the old town clock tower where you can see the apostles inside the clock as well as the church chamber behind the clock. There is also within the tour a chance to see under the clock tower where you can visit the medieval city below the current clock.

The Old Town Hall offers a one-of-a-kind historical tour. The elaborately furnished rooms from different eras showcase the incredible evolution of the town hall building. There are hourly tours with guides available in several languages.