Arguably Prague’s most identifiable icon, the Astronomical Clock built into the façade of the Old Town Hall on Old Town Square continues to draw crowds waiting to see the hourly chiming of this amazing mechanical structure that dates to 1410.

 

The Astronomical Clock was built as a cooperation between clockmaker Mikulas of Kadane and Jan Sindel, a mathematics and astrology professor at Charles University. Its intricate and colorful design depicts the movement of the sun, moon and stars, as well as a monthly calendar. The statues of the apostles make a charming mechanical procession on the hour between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m.

 

Old Town Hall has played a part with the most significant events in country’s history. Established in 1338, when King John of Luxembourg granted Prague’s Old Town the right to establish its own administrative centre, it was the site for George of Poděbrady’s selection as king of Bohemia in 1458. Following the Battle of White Mountain in 1620, leading revolutionaries were imprisoned here, and 27 were executed in front of the hall on 21 June 1621.

 

When the four districts of Prague merged in 1784, the Old Town Hall became the seat of the city’s unified official administration. At the end of World War II, the Old Town Hall was the focal point of an insurrection, and the Czech National Committee directed operations from its basement. On 7 May 1945, the Town Hall was bombarded by tanks. In the confrontation that followed, the east and north wings of the building, opposite Týn Church, were completely destroyed. The tower with the Astrological Clock and a chapel were also heavily damaged.

 

Within the Old Town Hall, the most important room is the Council Hall, which dates to the first half of the 15th century and was the site of all official proceedings. The joist ceiling, with its rich Renaissance ceiling decor from the second half of the 16th century and gilded chains, is authentic.

 

The High Gothic console, which features an angel bearing the inscription “Juste Iudicate Filii Hominis” (“Judge fairly, sons of man”) is complemented by a sculpture of the suffering of Christ from 1410. The municipal coats of arms above the portals and 46 guild coats of arms and 12 municipal coats of arms on the wooden paneling of the walls are authentic. The interior is completed with a Baroque tiled stove.

 

Climbing to the top of the Old Town Hall tower, visitors will be rewarded with bird’s eye views over the rooftops and spires of Old Town.

 

Contact

Staroměstské nám. 1/3

Prague 1 - Old Town

Tel. 236 002 629, 775 443 438 - 9, 775 855 039

www.pragueoldtownhall.com, http://www.staromestskaradnicepraha.cz/en/ up

 

Opening Hours

Interior:

January - December

Mon. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Tues. - Sun. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Tower:

January - December

Mon. 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Tues. - Sun. 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.

 

Entrance Fee

Historical Halls

FULL ADMISSION

ADULTS - 100 Kč

REDUCED ADMISSION

CHILDREN (6 – 15 YEARS) - 50 Kč

STUDENTS AND SENIORS - 70 Kč

CHILDREN (3 - 6 YEARS), DISABLED PERSONS, JOURNALISTS AND SENIORS OVER 75 YEARS - 20 Kč

FAMILY (2 ADULTS, MAX. 4 CHILDREN UP TO 15 YEARS) - 210 Kč

ADMISSION FOR SCHOOLS (MAX. 30 STUDENTS + TEACHERS)

KINDERGARTEN - 310 Kč

PRIMARY SCHOOL - 520 Kč

SECONDARY SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY - 1050 Kč

Tower

FULL ADMISSION

ADULTS - 110 Kč

REDUCED ADMISSION

CHILDREN (6 – 15 YEARS), STUDENTS AND SENIORS - 70 Kč

CHILDREN (3 - 6 YEARS), DISABLED PERSONS, JOURNALISTS AND SENIORS OVER 75 YEARS - 30 Kč

FAMILY (2 ADULTS, MAX. 4 CHILDREN UP TO 15 YEARS) - 210 Kč

ADMISSION FOR SCHOOLS (MAX. 30 STUDENTS + TEACHERS)

KINDERGARTEN - 310 Kč

PRIMARY SCHOOL - 520 Kč

SECONDARY SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY - 1050 Kč

COMBINED ADMISSION (HISTORICAL HALLS, UNDERGROUND, TOWER) - 160 Kč